Baghdad: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has initiated a preparatory workshop aimed at launching an awareness campaign. The focus of this campaign is on promoting voluntary social security for workers in the governorates of Baghdad, Basra, and Nineveh. This workshop witnessed participation from senior officials and social partners.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Osama al-Khafaji, Director General of the Department of Labor and Vocational Training, highlighted that the campaign’s objective is to increase awareness about the advantages of social security coverage. It seeks to ease workers’ access to social protection services and bolster efforts to formalize the labor market.

Kazem Al-Atwani, Director General of the Department of Media and Arab and International Relations, stressed the significance of unifying media and awareness messages within the campaign. He advocated for effective communication methods tailored to target groups such as workers, vulnerable groups, and returnees. Al-Atwani also noted that the media aspect is crucial for the campaign’s success, as it aids in raising awareness about social security and promoting its objectives and services.

The preparatory workshop concentrated on training participating teams, enhancing their readiness to implement the campaign. This involved strengthening their understanding of the legal aspects and mechanisms of the voluntary social security system, alongside developing essential digital skills to assist workers in completing registration procedures. The workshop also covered the use of approved digital platforms, including the social security registration platform and the “Mihan” platform.

The upcoming campaign will feature a mix of field and digital activities. These include an awareness campaign to elucidate the main provisions of the Labor Law and the Social Security Law. Additionally, information booths will be set up in public and busy areas, mobile teams will be deployed to reach workers at their workplaces, and online registration services will be provided to facilitate workers’ enrollment in the voluntary social security system.