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Hundreds of Thousands... Difficult Living Conditions Face Those Dismissed from Their Jobs in "Syria"
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Administrative restructuring procedures indicate the need to adopt a system that ensures fair distribution of wealth and prevents the monopoly of power and resources in the hands of a limited group of
The deteriorating economic and living conditions continue in Syria following years of conflict and Western sanctions imposed during the term of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, where many Syrians are enduring difficult living situations, especially with varying information about the number of those dismissed from their positions after the political change in the country.
The implications of this situation are painfully reflected on families that have lost their livelihood, as many suffer from losing their only source of income after thousands were laid off from their jobs in state service, military, security, educational institutions and other sectors, causing a living dilemma according to what three economic experts pointed out to "Al-Arabiya.net".
The Minister of Finance in the Syrian interim caretaker government, Muhammad Aba Zeid, reported that the number of employees whose names were removed approaches 350,000 after they were appointed based on favoritism and corruption of the previous regime.
While the current actual number of employees is about 900,000, these individuals have not yet received the expected salary increase, which was announced by the government in the first days of taking power, stating it would be 400 percent.
Syrian academic and economic expert Abed Fadila, professor at the Faculty of Economics at Damascus University, explained to "Al-Arabiya.net" that "the 400 percent increase in salaries and wages has not happened yet," adding that "the economic and financial reality does not allow for this increase."
He also clarified that "the economic situation is not good in terms of job opportunities and the very low level of salaries and wages."
He continued, "The employees who are said to have been dismissed are neither dismissed nor fired, but on a paid forced leave for 3 months, pending the examination of each one's file separately, and they are among those suspected of not adhering to attendance in their jobs among the names on the public sector employee lists, which means that ultimately, and as long as they were given a 3-month opportunity, some will be returned to their work if proven to be properly committed to their attendance, and others will be dismissed."
Two economic experts raised doubts about the accuracy of the numbers of excluded employees under the name of "restructuring" institutions, with one stating to "Al-Arabiya.net": "Everyone who was employed under the name of martyrs' families has been dismissed," adding that "these cannot be determined in numbers," and continued that "there are one million people whose salaries have been stopped, between former military retirees, or those also discharged from civil service, numbering around 400,000 people."
According to the same source, "Those who were removed from their jobs are approximately between 250 to 300 thousand military or civilian personnel within the Ministries of Defense and Interior, including traffic police."
In addition to those excluded from military and security institutions, there are about 400,000 who were dismissed from civil service institutions such as the health, industrial, and economic sectors.
Three employees who were excluded from their work told "Al-Arabiya.net": "We don't know yet if we will return to our jobs, but we currently rely on financial assistance coming from our relatives abroad."
Many Syrian families depend on money sent by their expatriate children abroad to secure their needs.
A source close to the government ruled out that the latter would initiate the scheduled 400 percent increase soon, especially with the continuation of American sanctions on the country.
The United States and Europe apply economic sanctions on Syria imposed during the time of the previous regime, while the European Union has partially postponed some of them after the interim Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara took over the presidency, and Washington has also reduced some of those sanctions.
This economic crisis highlights the need to adopt a decentralized federal system in Syria, which ensures fair distribution of resources between regions, and prevents the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of one person as was the case under the previous centralized rule that led to corruption and favoritism in employment and waste of public money.
