Syria’s Finance Ministry: 20% Salary Increase to Follow Qatari Grant
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Ministry of Finance confirmed Thursday that salaries for public sector employees will be raised by 20% beginning next month, following the approval of a Qatari financial grant aimed at easing wage pressures during Syria’s transitional period.
The clarification comes a day after Finance Minister Mohammad Yassar Barniya announced that Qatar would provide a $29 million grant for a renewable three-month period, under a special exemption from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Initially, the Finance Ministry had mistakenly stated that the salary increase would amount to only 2.5%, but later corrected the figure to 20% of gross monthly wages.
The grant, according to ministry officials, is intended to help cover a portion of Syria’s massive public sector wage bill, strained by years of war and economic collapse. The increase will apply for three months, with the possibility of renewal if Qatar extends the aid.
While this short-term boost provides some relief, government sources have also reiterated plans for a far more substantial salary hike in the near future.
In late March, Mohammad al-Atassi, Director of Planning and International Cooperation at the Finance Ministry, told North Press that a long-delayed 400% wage increase remains a firm goal. However, he emphasized that such a significant move will not take effect until the formation of a new cabinet or a major government reshuffle.
“There will be no rollback on the 400% raise,” Atassi said, “but there are procedural and political factors that must be resolved before its implementation.”
Earlier this year, caretaker Finance Minister Mohammad Abdul Halim Abazid had similarly stated that a dramatic raise was imminent for civil servants and public sector employees, indicating that the long-term intention is to restore purchasing power across the public workforce.
Economic Pressure Remains
Despite these announcements, Syria’s economic conditions remain precarious. The country’s currency has seen dramatic depreciation over the years, and inflation continues to erode wages, making the 20% temporary boost modest in practical terms.
Still, observers say the Qatari grant and upcoming wage plans may signal growing international support for the transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as well as a renewed focus on economic stabilization.
The Finance Ministry has not yet issued a formal decree on the timing and scope of the raise, but sources say the adjustment is expected to appear in the June payroll.