Syrian Workers Protest Mass Dismissals in Damascus

By Kardo Roj 

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Hundreds of Syrian government employees and workers staged a protest on Saturday in central Damascus, denouncing the mass dismissal of thousands of employees as part of a controversial government restructuring plan.

The demonstration, held in Yousef al-Azmeh Square outside the General Federation of Trade Unions, was called by civil groups in Jaramana, who urged Syrians to stand against what they called an unjust wave of layoffs.

The Syrian government recently announced the termination of 400,000 employees, citing “fictitious contracts” and administrative inefficiencies. However, many workers argue that the dismissals were arbitrary and affected long-standing employees still actively working in government institutions.

Growing Economic Concerns

Rasha al-Shoufi, a government employee participating in the protest, told North Press that workers are not opposing reforms but are against indiscriminate dismissals.

“We understand the need for restructuring, but firing employees who have been actively working is unfair and creates a major economic crisis,” she said.

Al-Shoufi warned that the mass layoffs would further widen Syria’s economic gap, increasing unemployment and financial hardships in a country already struggling with economic decline.

Union Leaders Call for Reevaluation

Trade union representatives also voiced concern over the haphazard nature of the decision. Qusay Kasado, a member of the Damascus Workers’ Union Executive Office, acknowledged the need for public sector reforms but criticized the process.

“The decision was made too quickly, without properly evaluating individual employees or the needs of each sector,” Kasado said.

He added that many dismissed employees were put on forced paid leave for three months, but there were no clear plans for their reinstatement.

“We were shocked to see names included in the dismissals without proper review. The process lacked transparency, and now thousands of families face financial uncertainty,” Kasado stated.

Uncertain Future for Syrian Workers

The dismissals come at a time when Syria’s economy is struggling with inflation, currency devaluation, and rising unemployment. While the government argues that reducing public sector inefficiencies is necessary, workers fear that the sudden restructuring could destabilize the job market and deepen economic hardship.

Trade union officials are now calling for a suspension of the dismissals and the creation of independent review committees to reassess the layoffs. They argue that a collaborative approach, involving both the government and labor unions, is essential to ensure that restructuring efforts do not push more Syrians into poverty.