Syria: Operating a Business

Working Conditions

Working Rest Day: They do not work on Fridays.
Retirement Age: 60 in the civil service.
Informal Labor Market: The informal work sector is very significant in Syria. It represents more than 40% of the active population. Most of the persons employed in the informal sector work in agriculture, building, construction (24%) and commerce (14%).

Minimum Wage: SYP 5,880 (USD118) for the public and private sector.
Average Wage: Average monthly gross earnings is between SYP 15,000 and 20,000 (USD 370 - 500 ).
Other Forms of Pay
Pay For Overtime: In certain cases, the employer can ask the employee to work extra hours. The overtime hours cannot exceed 12 hours of continuous work. For more information consult the site ILO (International Labor Organization).
Pay For Night Hours: Consult the Law texts in relation to the organization of night jobs. There is one law in particular regarding night jobs for women.

Contributions: Contributions Paid By the Employer: 14% of salary. Contributions Paid By the Employee: 7% of income.

Type of Contract: The law is very specific and precise regarding the contracts of employment. The sources of labor legislation in the Syrian Arab Republic are law n°91 of April 5, 1959 and legislative decree n°49 of July 3, 1962. The contract must be drawn up in Arabic with a duplicate, with a copy for each party (art. 43, LC). The trial period is stated in the contract, but it cannot exceed 3 months (art. 44, LC). A contract of employment can be established for a short term period or for an unspecified period of time. If it is agreed for a short term period and both parties continue to comply with it after the expiration date, it must be renewed for an indefinite period of time (art. 71, LC).

Retirement: The decrees No. 349 and No. 120 of 1961 regulate pensions and retirement.
Dismissals: Dismissals are difficult and costly. An employer cannot break a contract without a previous notice and without compensations, unless the employee has filled in one of the conditions stipulated in the article 76 of the labor code.
For more information, consult the site of the ILO (International Labor Organization).
Other Possible Methods: To be able to resign from their jobs, the employees of the public sector are required to obtain a prior authorization. This procedure is usually difficult and takes a long time.
Labor Laws: All the textes about Labor Law

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners: The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is the organization which represents workers in Syria. Since 1968, a decree has obliged all the country's trade unions to belong to the GFTU. This organization is strictly controlled by the ruling Baath party. It coordinates most aspects of union activity and determines which sectors or activities may create a union or a federation. As a consequence, union action is minimal and strikes are very rare.
Unionization Rate: The unionization rate in Syria is 100 %. Belonging to a trade union is mandatory in order to be employed.
Regulation Bodies: Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.