Summer Jobs Program

Summer Jobs Program • Origin of Program: Amb Bremer Jobs Initiative, June 7, 2003 (formal announcement 6/15/03) • Ministry of Irrigation (MoIR) had deferred maintenance on thousands of kilometres of irrigation ditches and canals + war delayed effort • Problems consist of clogged canals due to aquatic weed growth, and silted drainage canals. • Jobs program well-suited to hiring local unskilled labour Program Benefits • Quick employment impact-immediate results- improved irrigation efficiency • A valuable internal management tool • Enhance visibility and respect of MoIR • Promote cooperation between MoAG and MoIR • Provide rewarding mission to MoIR employees—Get employees working • Weed out non-performing employees/companies Progress • 3000 employed right now. Planned to be 50,000 by the end of July. • Weekly payroll ~ $150K for 10,000 workers, incl 6% mgmt costs (gas, lunch, travel, etc. – no Ministry labor costs) • Oversight provided by MoIR State companies • Payments being coordinated with Min Finance and Banks in Governates Progress (Cont’d) • Anticipate that 5050 km will be cleaned by end of November • As of 1 July, 350 km have been cleaned • The program is expected to grow to 50000 employees by end July-Min Agriculture is beginning to cooperate and will help organizing sites. • Other possibilities for employment include trash pickup in villages; roadside rubble clearing, schoolhouses and playgrounds maintenance Observations • Program very well received by populace • Potential problems that may emerge include accidents (drownings) & waterborne diseases • Payments are a problem, but not insurmountable • Need to publicize program more • Possible Amb Bremer visit to site (TBD) Nassiriya Samawa Diwaniya 0 Chanals to be cleared km 800 600 400 200 1000 1200 Najaf Karbala Hilla Basrah Amara Kut Diala Baghdad Achieved Target Job Creation Initiative Progress to Date