"Minister of Labor: We have prepared a national charitable project as part of the ministry's focus on vulnerable and targeted groups.

Al-Asadi Calls on the Media and Communications Commission to Monitor Content Affecting the Government Lottery Program on Satellite Channels

Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Al-Asadi, inaugurated the Social Care Lottery Project (Loto Iraq), the first humanitarian project to support the ministry's targeted services.

In a press conference held on Sunday, August 6, 2023, following the project's inauguration, the minister stated: The Ministry of Labor has developed this national and charitable project as part of its focus on targeted groups. The project was initiated in 2017 and aims to provide services to groups under the ministry's care, including people with disabilities, orphanages, and shelters in Baghdad, provinces, including the Kurdistan Region.

He clarified that the ministry contracted with a specialized company to initiate the Social Care Lottery Project. A 36% share of its profits was allocated to be distributed among shelters, institutes for the disabled, and orphanages, based on population proportions in the provinces. He mentioned that the deposited funds in the bank, which will be distributed among shelters, amounted to approximately 720 million Iraqi Dinars, while the winnings for participants in these contests amounted to around 870 million Iraqi Dinars.

Mr. Al-Asadi highlighted that the profits from the Social Care Lottery Project are still quite low, mainly because the awareness of the project among different segments of society is not clear. Additionally, there's competition from other lottery programs and contests broadcasted on satellite channels, which affects the government lottery program. He urged the Media and Communications Commission to monitor and follow what is broadcasted on satellite channels, as it impacts the government lottery program.

The minister also extended an invitation to various channels and media outlets to support the project, emphasizing that it not only generates profits but also contributes to alleviating the suffering of many vulnerable groups, particularly in orphanages, for people with disabilities, and in shelters."