Al-Kilabi: Government takes measures to address financial crisis, rejects 45-day salary proposal

Parliamentary Finance Committee member Youssef Al-Kilabi said on Wednesday that the government has launched a package of measures to address the country’s financial crisis, revealing that Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaydi rejected a proposal to pay public-sector salaries once every 45 days.

Speaking at a press conference, Al-Kilabi said the government inherited an economy burdened by debt and significant financial challenges, noting that securing salaries has become increasingly difficult amid declining oil revenues.

He called for the current economic situation to be treated as an emergency, stressing that government measures should not come at the expense of citizens. He also urged authorities to prevent traders from exploiting the crisis to raise prices and make unlawful profits.

Al-Kilabi said the government’s response includes injecting around $100 million into the market, while warning of attempts to exploit the economic situation through media outlets for political gains.

He called for those manipulating the country’s economic conditions at the expense of citizens to be exposed and for tougher action against bribery and corruption. He stressed that further crises should not be created under the pretext of seeking solutions to the current financial situation.