{local: Euphrates News} The Council of Ministers approved in its forty-fourth regular session, held today, Tuesday, a package of executive procedures related to the electronic payment system and electronic points of sale (POS), which was adopted by the government within its ministerial platform in the axis of economic and financial reforms, and obliging all government agencies to do so, and the procedures included the following:
First:
1- Implementing the requirements and generalities issued by the Central Bank of Iraq, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the relevant authorities, which contributes to the speedy completion of the application of electronic payment systems, including electronic points of sale (POS) and other accounts for the owners, in accordance with the law.
2- The use of electronic payment tools by procurement committees and implementation committees are a secretariat, provided that all payment processes are, after (6) months from the date of issuance of this decision.
3- Depositing bonuses, incentives, annual profits and overtime wages granted to employees and those in charge of public service, by at least (20%) of them in their bank accounts, provided that they are used for electronic payment exclusively and may not be withdrawn in cash.
4- Adopting financial and accounting information systems for the financial aspects of expenses and revenues, which contribute to the ease of using electronic payment methods and electronic collection.
Second: The Central Bank of Iraq shall take all measures to support the application of electronic payment systems, including electronic points of sale (POS) in accordance with the law, including the following:
1- Coordination with the relevant authorities to exercise an effective role in supporting projects of electronic payment systems, drawing a national strategy for payments and overcoming obstacles facing the work of the beneficiaries of these systems.
2- Inventing all services provided and their types, amounts and fees collected from citizens, in addition to the number of transactions for each of the services provided, and setting a commission pricing policy for electronic payment services for amounts collected for the benefit of government institutions, according to the letter of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers on September 14, 2023.
3- Organizing workshops, including banks, electronic payment companies, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, unions and related parties, to present their ideas and proposals in the field of providing incentives and facilities that can be adopted in the success of the project and submitted to decision makers.
4- Completing the evaluation of electronic payment companies according to the criteria set for this purpose, and determining the position on their license according to the results of the evaluation.
5- Expedite the completion of the study of applications submitted by new companies, which wish to enter the market and provide the service according to the established standards, in order to ensure the attraction of discreet companies in this field and strengthen the principle of competition, in order to achieve the provision of the best services at the lowest prices to citizens.
6- Completing the procedures for determining the tariff related to electronic payments, due to the nature of the business and the amounts collected for the public and private sectors, no later than December 15, 2023.
Third: The Central Bank of Iraq obliges all banks to take all measures to support the application of electronic payment systems, including electronic points of sale (POS), including the following:
1- Simplifying the procedures for opening bank accounts for citizens, business owners and professions, while studying the possibility of account opening and card issuance commissions (free or at nominal prices), and cooperating with all banks; to grant short or medium credit facilities to the owners of these interests, to ensure the benefit of the existence of their accounts and motivate them to use electronic payment.
2- Approving the service of banking offices in addition to branches, and moving in the field to universities, institutes, shopping centers, commercial centers and others, for the purpose of encouraging the opening of bank accounts to customers and providing them with electronic cards (free of charge or at nominal prices).
3- Studying the possibility of including deposits derived from electronic operations, which exceed a certain amount and remain in the account for a period of time, as savings deposits, under which certain benefits or benefits are granted.
4- Requiring banks and electronic payment companies to provide an electronic application (free) on the mobile phone, which allows customers to pay by phone, inquire about their balances and financial transactions, and prepare reports on paid invoices related to electronic payment systems, including electronic points of sale (POS).
5- Taking appropriate measures regarding monopoly contracts concluded with electronic payment companies, in order to ensure compliance with the Competition Law and Prevention of Monopoly No. 14 of 2010.
6- Intensifying media awareness campaigns for citizens, on the benefits of electronic payment systems and how to use them, including electronic points of sale (POS) in coordination between banks and electronic payment companies.
7- Requiring electronic payment companies to provide a customer service center around the clock, to facilitate payment operations and address the immediate problems that have occurred in electronic payment.
Fourth: The Ministry of Communications and the Media and Communications Authority, each according to its competence, shall provide the Internet at reasonable prices for all commercial sites, in order to ensure support for e-commerce and the synchronization of data and commercial transactions at the required speed.
Fifth: Require private educational institutions, universities, private colleges, fuel processing stations, centers and shops of all kinds, restaurants, pharmacies, private medical clinics, stores, all wholesale and single marketing outlets, and professionals and others that require payment for their benefit within the limits of the Baghdad Municipality, provincial centers and districts throughout all parts of Iraq, to have a minimum amount of cash receipts through the electronic point of sale system (POS) after being determined by the concerned sectoral authorities, and presenting them to the Ministerial Council of the Economy, as a condition for renewing work permits or licenses to practice the profession.
Sixth: The relevant government agencies must oblige all owners of commercial activities to register their entities in the Commercial Register, and to register the owners of professions with the competent sectoral authorities, with the requirement to open a bank account as one of the registration requirements or license the practice of the profession.
Seventh: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs / Department of Retirement and Social Security for Workers, obliges companies to pay the social security amounts of their employees through electronic payment systems.
Eighth: Government agencies should impose additional wages not exceeding (5%) of the values of goods and services in cash transactions, compared to their counterparts completed through electronic payment systems, in order to encourage citizens; to use electronic payment systems instead of cash payment.
Ninth: This decision shall be implemented as of December 1, 2023.
