Can I give up my leave for money?
Kurdistan Region
No, such an agreement is void. Unused days are paid when the job ends.
- Labour Law No. 71 of 1987 · Art. 71, 72/2
Federal Iraq
Unused days are paid in cash when the contract ends, at the last wage.
- Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 · Art. 76/4
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.
يقع باطلا كل اتفاق بقضي بالتخلي عن حق العامل في الاجازة السنوية او التنازل عنها, كلا او جزءا لقاء تعويض او لاي سبب.تدفع للعامل اجور الايام التي لم يتمتع بها من اجازته السنوية عند انتهاء عمله لاي سبب كان على اساس الاجر الذي كان يتقاضاه عند انتهاء عمله.يستحق العامل تعويضا نقديا عن الايام التي لم يتمتع بعا من اجازته السنوية عند انتهاء عقد عمله و يحسب مبلغ التعويض في هذه الحالة على اساس اخر اجر تقاضاه العامل .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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