📰 Workers employed by Save the Children at Hawl Camp protest low wages

HASAKAH, syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria (North Press) – Day laborers known as “incentive workers” employed by Save the Children staged on Sunday a sit-in at Hawl Camp in the countryside of Hasakah, northeastern Syria, protesting low wages and the organization’s failure to grant them permanent employment after years of service. One of the protesting workers informed North Press that he has been employed by the organization for more than four years but is still classified as a “day laborer” or “incentive worker. ” He stated that around 70 people took part in the sit-in, all of whom are university or institute graduates. “Despite our experience and the difficult conditions we face daily while working with camp residents and children, our salaries have not improved, and our employment status remains temporary,” he stated. The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, explained that their daily wage is only $16, with two weekly days off that are not paid.

Each worker also pays about $60 per month in transportation costs to reach the camp. He added that the most latest salary increases by Save the Children covered only the organization’s permanent staff, excluding day laborers despite their repeated demands to be included. as per the source, the sit-in commenced early in the morning as workers refused to report to their posts until their demands are met. Additionally, camp management intervened and urged the protesters to wait for a resolution from the organization’s higher administration, while the local coordinator of Save the Children had yet to respond as of press time.

Hawl Camp hosts tens of thousands of residents, including families of the Islamic State (isis) members from Syria, Iraq, and other countries. More than 50 local and international organizations operate inside the camp or provide direct backing to its residents. By Samer Yassin