Foreign Labor in Iraq: Geographical Study on Historical Development, Spatial Distribution, and Multiple Impacts

Abstract

    This research addresses a significant human phenomenon that has become strikingly apparent in the Iraqi society, entailing multifaceted impacts where the negative consequences outweigh the positive on the economic, political, and social levels of the country. Due to the gravity of this phenomenon, it becomes imperative to study it, ascertain its data, and analyze it from both historical and geographical perspectives. The recruitment of foreign immigrant labor into Iraq commenced following the year 2003, establishing a definitive presence particularly in the service and oil sectors, which subsequently contributed to the elevation of unemployment rates among the local workforce.

      So , this research seeks to analyze the reality of immigrant labor in Iraq and shed light on the conditions governing its recruitment. The study is structured around three primary axes: the first axis addresses the concept of immigrant labor and the historical progression of its recruitment; the second axis examines immigrant labor in the post-2003 era, the challenges encountered, and the ramifications of its presence; and the third axis investigates the spatial distribution of foreign labor within Iraq. The study reached several conclusions, most notably:

    The necessity of tightening regulatory and oversight measures regarding the entry of foreign immigrant labor into Iraq and ensuring their formal and official registration.

    Iraq is classified among countries with a high economic potential and is viewed through the lens of oil-producing nations; therefore, it has witnessed a broad attraction for the recruitment of external manpower.