BASRA, Iraq - As International Labor Day is marked across the world, concerns are growing in Basra over rising numbers of foreign workers and increasing unemployment among local residents.

Local officials and human rights activists are warning that the gap between foreign and local workers is widening. They blame weak government oversight and corruption, saying the problem is becoming a serious social and economic threat in the oil-rich province.

Haider al-Marriani, a member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Labor Committee, told The New Region that more than 5,000 foreign workers are now employed in Basra, mostly in the oil sector. He said many of them entered the country illegally, taking jobs while thousands of young Iraqis remain unemployed and overlooked.

“The Labor Committee can only oversee and recommend,” Marriani said. “The foreign labor issue is handled by the Ministries of Oil and Interior, so the local government can’t really step in.”

Marriani said oil companies often set tough requirements that block local workers, such as long experience, foreign training certificates, and strict age limits. Even degrees from Iraqi technical schools are not accepted, he said, making it very hard for locals to get jobs.

He also pointed to serious abuses in the job market, including cases where jobs are sold for tens of thousands of dollars. 

“This strengthens the role of foreign workers and keeps local talent out,” he added.

Ali al-Abadi, head of the Basra Human Rights Center, said he is worried about the unchecked rise in foreign workers. He accused oil and service companies of hiring foreigners at high wages or bringing in low-paid workers who face harsh conditions. 

In some cases, he said, their treatment amounts to human trafficking and there is no proper database or effective monitoring in place.

“This creates a deep social gap and a growing sense of injustice among unemployed youth,” he said. 

He further called on the federal government to step in and fix the hiring system to protect local workers’ rights.

Noufal al-Mansouri, a member of the Taqyeem Coalition in Basra’s Provincial Council, said the council has been discussing the foreign labor issue. 

He noted that the high wages paid to foreign workers, while locals are sidelined, are a heavy economic burden and a major social injustice.

“The local government has no real power to oversee the oil sites,” Mansouri said.“These are run under federal contracts, and only the prime minister or oil minister can make decisions about them.”

He added the council is working to form special investigation committees to count the foreign workers and check if they are in the country legally. 

Mansouri stressed that the Basra government is serious about supporting young local job seekers and wants to create fair opportunities for them in both public and private sectors.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Thursday demonstrated “unwavering commitment” to the rights of workers in the country.

“This commitment is reflected in the implementation of the Labor Retirement and Social Security Law, which fosters an environment where the productivity of the workforce can thrive,” Sudani wrote on X.