Does my job contract have to be in writing?
Kurdistan Region
Yes. It must be written and state the type of work and the wage. Without a written contract you don't lose your rights: you can prove you worked there and what wage was agreed with any evidence, such as witnesses, messages, wage transfers or payslips.
- Labour Law No. 71 of 1987 · Art. 30
Federal Iraq
Oral or written. A written one is signed in three copies: worker, employer and labour department.
- Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 · Art. 37/1
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.
يجب ان يكون عقد العمل مكتوبا, ويحدد فيه نوع العمل ومقدار الاجر, وفي حالة عدم كتابة العقد, فللعامل ان يثبت العقد والحقوق الناشئة عنه بجميع طرق الاثبات.يبرم عقد العمل ، شفهيا او تحريريا ، باتفاق طرفيه المتمثلين بصاحب العمل و العامل . و في حالة عقد العمل المكتوب ، يتولى صاحب العمل تنظيم عقد العمل كتابيا و محررا بثلاث نسخ موقع عليها من قبله و من قبل العامل و يحتفظ كلا منهما بنسخة و تودع النسخة الثالثة لدى الدائرة .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.
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