The project's closing ceremony was held at the Rwanga Foundation headquarters, bringing together key stakeholders including (Hassan Sheikh Alaaddeen) Executive Director of Rwanga Foundation, (Falah Hasan) Head of Department of Non-Governmental Organizations(KRG), Kurdistan Region, (Ahmed Saad) Representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Iraqi Government, (Akhtiar Haji( Soran  Vocational Training Center Director and Ministry of Labor Representative, (Hemdad Umaid) Director of Labor and Social Association

Launched in 2022 in partnership with the International Labor Organization, the two-year initiative aimed to establish a comprehensive framework for protecting youth workplace rights through collaborative research and policy development.

Following extensive consultations with 177 young professionals, unemployed youth, company owners, and government officials, the project developed a comprehensive draft addressing 12 critical areas:

• Legal foundations of Iraqi labor law
• Barriers to youth employment and decent work
• Forced labor, child labor, and discrimination issues
• Work conditions: hours, wages, and leave policies
• Occupational safety and health standards
• Collective bargaining and worker rights
• Workplace equality, anti-discrimination, and harassment prevention
• Employment access for displaced youth under Iraqi law
• Social insurance frameworks
• Employer and worker rights and responsibilities
• Women's specific workplace rights
• Psychological safety in the workplace

The project's comprehensive activities spanned strategic training programs for trainers and government employees, with extensive engagement across key regions including Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Garmyan, Soran, Zakho, Baghdad, and Nineveh. A critical component of the initiative was participation in job fairs, designed to directly educate youth about their workplace rights and empower them with critical knowledge for professional development.

Youth represent the foundation of our present and future; protecting their rights is a collective societal responsibility.

About The Rwanga Foundation:

The Rwanga Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people in Iraq, with a focus on education, youth empowerment, and sustainable development. Through collaboration with international partners, the foundation continues to lead impactful projects aimed at fostering development and supporting local communities.

For more information, contact:

07508693039