Tishwash: A “major demonstration” followed by a comprehensive strike… exchange companies rise up against the Central Bank!
On Tuesday, exchange companies in Iraq confirmed their readiness to begin a “major demonstration” next Thursday, followed by a comprehensive strike in all governorates, in protest against the decisions of the Central Bank, announcing that the latter would hand over a package of demands that would contribute to the stability of the local market and support the private sector.
The exchange companies said in a statement that they “announce their readiness to begin a wave of protests that will begin with a major demonstration next Thursday, October 5, followed by a comprehensive general strike in all governorates, stopping the activities of all companies, and officially exiting the currency auction window.” In protest against the severe confusion in the decisions of the Central Bank, the hostile and retaliatory practices, and the illegal penalties and deprivations that affected more than 1,000 companies and contributed to the rise in the exchange rate of the dollar and causing severe damage to the private sector, of which exchange companies are considered one of its most important pillars, with a number of companies amounting to 2,000 companies and employees of more than 10,000 employees. They have a prominent role in turning the wheel of the Iraqi economy and sustaining its activity.”
The exchange companies announced that “the Central Bank has delivered a package of demands that contribute to the stability of the local market and support the private sector, the most prominent of which are:
1- Stop all arbitrary measures, the policy of revenge and sanctions, and exercise the evaluative supervisory role of the Central Bank’s departments so that financial institutions can develop their work and continue their activities.
2- Re-introducing the legal contexts previously in effect by inquiring and clarifying with the company before issuing penalties and deprivation letters.
3- Putting an end to the arbitrary dealings and injustice that befell companies and issuing clear and binding schedules showing every violation and its punishment.
4- Returning the companies’ previous cash shares to the companies to meet the needs of travelers and to cover the expenses of continuing their work.
5- Completing late transactions and resolving them as quickly as penalties are issued.
6- Uprooting the corrupt elements nested in the departments of the Central Bank and urgently rotating the corrupt elements who intend to harm this institution in particular and the Iraqi state in general.” link
