Marina Merhej | Wasim al-Adawi | Shaaban Chamieh | Amir Huquq
Following the collapse of the Assad regime, administrative transitions within Syria’s public sector have triggered a significant salary imbalance. There is now a stark divide between long-term civil servants governed by the traditional legal pay scale and recently hired personnel, many of whom have transitioned from northern Syria under specialized contractual agreements.
Currently, the typical monthly income for a public sector worker fluctuates between 1.2 and 1.5 million Syrian pounds, which translates to approximately $120 to $150. In contrast, some of the newer staff members brought into state departments following the political shift receive starting salaries of $300 per month. This means new hires are often earning double or triple the wages of veteran employees holding the same job rank and responsibilities.
This discrepancy is more than just a difference in contract language; it highlights the lack of a standardized wage policy during this critical transitional period. State institutions are currently operating under a fragmented system that attempts to blend legacy administrative frameworks with new financial incentives designed to attract fresh talent.
In this report, Enab Baladi explores the distortions within Syria’s public sector wage system, the expanding rift between employee groups, the factors preventing a unified pay scale, and the resulting legal, economic, and social consequences.
A Fractured Pay System and Its Economic Impact
The instability of the public sector’s compensation structure is a critical issue affecting Syria’s current economic landscape. This distortion directly impacts institutional efficiency, worker productivity, and the government’s capacity to revitalize the national economy. When salary standards are inconsistent and lack clear justification, the internal balance of these institutions is compromised, hindering their ability to function effectively.
Current distortions manifest through sector-based disparities, the use of multiple currencies for payments, and a disconnect between wages and actual professional experience. These issues raise vital questions regarding the foundation of the current pay scale and its economic repercussions. Speaking to Enab Baladi, economic experts argued that such imbalances stifle production and weaken the public sector’s role as a primary economic engine.
Observations from January 4, 2025, showed Syrians gathered to exchange currency in Damascus, while photos from April 14, 2025, captured government workers queuing at ATMs in al-Marjeh Square to collect their earnings.
Structural Flaws in the Wage Pyramid
Dr. Sabri Hassan, a researcher and university professor, noted that the pay scale in the Syrian public sector suffers from deep-rooted structural flaws. He explained that wages have become detached from productivity, with salaries no longer reflecting an employee’s performance or value-add. Hassan also highlighted the “flattening” of the salary hierarchy, where the narrow gaps between different job grades discourage employees from seeking promotions.
Hassan told Enab Baladi that several factors drive these disparities, including political and security instability, which has fueled inflation and the collapse of the Syrian pound. He also pointed to government policies that implement irregular wage hikes that fail to match rising costs, the inconsistent application of raises between military and civilian sectors, and the presence of “ghost employees.” These issues are compounded by the long-term effects of war and international sanctions, which have devastated purchasing power.
Professional Frustration: Same Work, Different Pay
The real-world impact of these policies is felt by workers like one engineer at the Ministry of Energy. Having served for over 20 years in an organization now under the ministry’s jurisdiction, he receives a monthly salary of no more than 1.3 million Syrian pounds. Despite being subject to the Basic Workers Law—which dictates his hours, social security, and accountability—he finds himself earning far less than newer colleagues.
“I welcome any new colleague in the department, but it is unacceptable that we and they sit in the same office doing the same work, are held to the same standards, and yet the salary difference is multiplied several times over,” the engineer stated, requesting anonymity. He noted that staff from the “Salvation Government” in Idlib previously earned more than those under the old regime, and these disparities persisted as they merged into the interim and transitional governments.
The engineer emphasized that this inequality damages morale and creates friction among staff. He noted that veteran workers are frequently left wondering why administrations are “vague and unclear” regarding why some staff members earn four or five times more than others in the same category. He argued that the law must be applied uniformly to restore trust and ensure “equal pay for equal work.”
The Psychological and Social Toll of Inequality
Economist and university professor Dr. Majdi al-Jamous described the pay scale distortions as one of the most pressing economic problems in Syria. He attributed the root cause to the lack of a comprehensive legal framework to regulate labor within state institutions.
According to al-Jamous, this regulatory vacuum encourages discrimination and favoritism, which he identified as a primary source of workplace hostility and low productivity. He described the current discrimination—often based on political background—as a “stain on the dignity of Syrian employees.”
He further explained that the constant comparison between salaries paid in U.S. dollars and those paid in Syrian pounds has fostered deep-seated frustration. Al-Jamous warned that this environment encourages negative behaviors, including corruption, bribery, and a lack of dedication to the job. Ultimately, this undermines the public sector’s ability to contribute to the construction of a national economy.
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