Hewler Hakim
As the Syrian Transitional Administration continues its large-scale dismissal of thousands of employees, public anger is mounting. These mass layoffs have raised critical questions about the legitimacy of these decisions and their social and economic impact. These actions have become an obstacle to citizens’ stability and confidence in the new Government, given the growing uncertainty about the career prospects of thousands of Syrian families.
Thousands of Employees Dismissed Across Multiple Sectors
In the latest wave of layoffs, the Ministry of Education of the Syrian Transitional Government announced the termination of 3.000 teachers, sparking widespread outrage within the educational community. Many teachers and educators were shocked by the sudden decision. In the Latakia governorate alone, a list of 12.000 civil servants employed in the Ministries of Health and Education and the port of Latakia was released, which has raised serious concerns about the future of the governorate’s public services.
This is not the first instance of such mass dismissals. Just days ago, the Health Directorate issued a decision to terminate 336 doctors and medical personnel in Damascus, partially crippling healthcare services in some health facilities. The State Company for Ferrous and Steel Products has also indefinitely suspended 500 workers without offering any explanations, promoting further concerns about transparency and fairness in making such decisions.
The wave of dismissals has also extended to other multiple sectors, including the Ministry of Information, shipping ports, the Syrian Aviation Company and the customs sector. The implementation of these decisions came in multiple ways: while some employees were placed on three months’ paid leave with referrals to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, others’ such as the families of martyrs and former military service personnel, had their contracts completely terminated. These policies have fueled widespread anxiety and fear that they will further deepen Syria’s ongoing social and economic crisis.
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Increased Salaries Promised but Implementation Delayed
These layoffs come amid repeated promises from the Syrian Transitional Administration of a projected 400% salary increase, which is supposed to be financed from the state treasury, regional assistance, and new investments. Despite the initial announcement of this increase since the fall of the former Syrian regime and the designation of early 2025 as the target date for its implementation, no concrete action has been taken yet. This delay added to the frustration among employees struggling with rising living costs without a corresponding improvement in wages.
Amal Shaheen 49-year-old nurse at the Latakia National Hospital, expressed deep dismay over her dismissal after 28 years of continuous service. She told +963 that she and her colleagues had been informed of their termination via WhatsApp, a method they found both unofficial and degrading, especially given their contribution during national crisis.
Shaheen added, “For years, we faced the coronavirus pandemic and earthquake, is this really how experienced professionals should be treated? We are the ones who stood on the front lines at the time of crisis, yet we are being dismissed so easily?”
At the Salmiya National Hospital in Hamas, Noor al-Saleh told +963 that 1,470 employees were granted three months’ paid leave, expressing concern that this was merely a preparation for permanent dismissal without any guarantees.
In Aleppo, hundreds of dismissed employees took to the streets in mass protests demanding the reversal of arbitrary termination decisions and the fulfilment of salary increase promises. Demonstrators carried banners stressing the importance of protecting workers’ rights and ensuring job stability in this transitional period.
Read more: كيف يكافح الموظف الحكومي السوري من أجل البقاء؟ – 963+
Justification by the Syrian Transitional Administration
For its part, the Syrian Transitional Administration justified these measures as an effort to “redistribute cadres as needed.” Hussein Al-Khatib, a senior official at the Ministry of Health, explained that the leave did not equate to dismissal, but rather aimed at addressing occupational redundancies and improving the efficiency of the public sector. He emphasized that the Ministry was reassessing its staffing needs to ensure a more equitable and effective workforce distribution.
Finance Minister Mohammed Abozaid noted that only 900.000 of the 1.3 million employees actually go to work, requiring a comprehensive restructuring to eliminate what he described as “ghost employees”. He argued that these reforms were crucial for relocating resources towards reconstruction and economic development.
Legitimacy of the Decision and its Economic and Social Consequences
Professor Dr. Rafat Amer, a researcher specializing in international economics and sustainable development, criticized these decisions as unlawful due to the absence of appropriate oversight committees and a thorough sectoral job assessment. Speaking to +963, he argued that the mass layoffs of employees without a detailed study of sectoral needs were both unjust and detrimental to essential services.
Amer warned of serious consequences, including rising unemployment, diminished purchasing power, and the collapse of critical services, especially in education and healthcare, which heavily rely on experienced professionals.
He also pointed out that such policies could exacerbate extreme poverty and increase social tensions, potentially pushing unemployed youth toward illegal work, thus, posing risks to national and social security and stability.
Amer concluded, “Individuals cannot be held responsible for the corruption of the former regime. These workforce restructuring decisions could have been postponed until the constitutional and judicial institutions of the State were fully reestablished, ensuring fairness and transparency. Independent committees must be formed to assess employees’ situations based on clear and equitable criteria.”
