Syria Begins Reinstatement Process for Dismissed Public Employees
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian government has launched a process to reintegrate thousands of public sector employees who were previously dismissed by the former regime, marking an early step toward addressing long-standing administrative grievances and promoting institutional reconciliation.
According to statements from state-affiliated media on Friday, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment has begun conducting formal interviews with dismissed employees across multiple provinces. These individuals were reportedly removed from their posts due to political affiliations or security reports under the former government of Bashar al-Assad.
The ministry announced that it is currently reviewing the cases of 5,622 dismissed employees, aiming to determine eligibility for reinstatement within the civil service. Officials said the initiative is part of a broader administrative review strategy intended to correct unjust employment decisions made during the previous era.
“These procedures reflect the ministry’s commitment to evaluating the employment files of those unjustly dismissed and ensuring their reintegration according to legal frameworks and administrative standards,” the statement read.
The process comes amid broader efforts by Syria’s transitional government to rebuild public institutions following the political transition of late 2024. As the new authorities seek to reestablish credibility within the civil administration, reintegrating experienced professionals is seen as vital to restoring service delivery and local governance capacity.
While the effort is being led by the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, other ministries are expected to follow suit in the coming months, according to government sources. The process will reportedly involve file reviews, interviews, and cross-checking of personnel records, with an emphasis on due process and transparency.
The move has been welcomed by affected individuals and their families, many of whom lost access to public sector employment due to security-related dismissals, often without recourse or explanation. Human rights organizations have long documented such cases, citing politically motivated purges as a hallmark of the former administration.
This step is also viewed as a signal from Syria’s interim authorities of a shift toward more inclusive governance, where political diversity is no longer penalized within the civil service. In regions where local councils operate under the governance of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), similar administrative reforms have emphasized accountability and the reintegration of qualified personnel into public service roles.
The reintegration effort is ongoing, with additional phases expected to follow as more cases are reviewed.