Can a fixed-term contract keep being renewed?
Kurdistan Region
No fixed term for continuous work, unless extra workers are needed for a set period and task.
- Labour Law No. 71 of 1987 · Art. 32/1
Federal Iraq
At most one year. Renewed more than once, it becomes open-ended. Same rights as permanent staff.
- Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 · Art. 38/1, 38/3, 38/4
The law
The Kurdistan Region has no labour law of its own, so it still applies Iraqi Labour Law No. 71 of 1987. Federal Iraq has applied the newer Labour Law No. 37 since 2015.
لا يجوز تحديد مدة للعقد في الاعمال ذات الطبيعة المستمرة, الا اذا اقتضت متطلبات العمل الا ستعانة بعمال اضافييين لفترة وعمل معينين.على ان لا تزيد مدة العقد ذلك على سنة واحدة .يتمتع العامل بعقد عمل محدد المدة بنفس الحقوق التي يتمتع بها العامل بعقد عمل دائمي .يكون عقد العمل غير محدد المدة اذا تم تجديده اكثر من مرة واحدة .This is general information, not legal advice. It is for private-sector workers only, not government employees. It is written from the official texts of the laws named with each answer, checked on Oct 15, 2026. If anything differs, the official text of the law decides. For your own situation, speak to a lawyer or the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
Looking for a new job?
New openings from employers and job sites across Kurdistan and Iraq, gathered every hour.