Abstract
This research examines the phenomenon of increasing reliance on foreign labor in Iraq after 2003, highlighting its repercussions on unemployment rates, poverty, the labor market, and social impacts. The study aims to shed light on the main causes of this phenomenon, analyze its negative effects, and propose practical solutions to mitigate its consequences.
The research relied on a methodology combining theoretical aspects with applied field analysis in the capital, Baghdad. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to a random sample of 100 employers. Data was analyzed using the SPSS statistical program to achieve accurate results.
The study revealed a number of factors contributing to the spread of foreign labor, most notably their lower wage costs compared to local labor, weak skills and lack of commitment among some local workers, increased household income with women entering the workforce, in addition to the imitation of certain social patterns. The results also pointed to clear negative effects, such as rising unemployment levels among Iraqi youth, economic impact through the transfer of funds abroad, the emergence of security problems like crime and robbery, the influence of foreign nannies on children's behavior and language, and a decrease in wages due to the increased supply of labor.
Based on these findings, the research presented a set of recommendations. These include enacting strict legislation regulating the entry of foreign labor while prioritizing the employment of local resources, implementing training and rehabilitation programs for the Iraqi workforce to improve their skills, organizing media campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of domestic foreign labor, promoting work ethic and commitment among youth, and encouraging the appreciation of manual trades. The research also emphasized the necessity of conducting more extensive future studies for deeper investigation into the resulting impacts and developing long-term solutions..