Hannouche Associates

The lockdown and imposed curfews in both Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in an effort to contain the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic triggered several repercussions affecting the relationship between companies and their employees as a result of the unforeseen social and financial conditions. In Federal Iraq, the lockdown began on March 17, 2020 and the Ministry of Health declared February 20, 2020 as the effective date for the beginning of the legal effects of a force majeure. Similarly, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq started its lockdown on March 14, 2020, without officially addressing the issue of force majeure in any of its communications or directives.