By Avin Youssef
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The challenging economic circumstances, price hikes, and increasing cost of living have compelled many women in northeast Syria to undertake physically demanding jobs that are beyond their physical capabilities.
Mona Ali (pseudonym) begins her work at 7 a.m., laboring to load merchandise for a food company in the city of Qamishli, northeast Syria.
Mona is a 16-year-old girl from the village of Dabbanah south of Qamishli. Despite being a 10th-grade student, she works to secure the necessary funds for her educational courses, earning a daily wage of 30,000 Syrian pounds ($2).
Because of prices hike, her father can barely afford the daily living expenses for his family of seven, the young girl told North Press, “I am in the 10th grade, scientific branch, and the cost of private lessons for this branch is very high. That’s why I had to work to be able to afford my study expenses.”
The young girl further explained that her family is consists of five girls and a boy, her only brother is still young.
“If my brother were older, he could have helped our father, and I wouldn’t have had to work. But he is still young,” Ali said.
“I don’t feel comfortable, neither at work nor at school. When I go to school, I do not understand the lessons. Work has affected my concentration and it’s impacting my study,” she said sadly.
Ali firmly believes that young girls should only complete their education.
Long working hours
Girls and women in the city of Qamishli are working long hours, between 10 to 12 hours per day, for very low wages. This is happening in the absence of laws that protect the rights of female workers in the private sector.
The women are compelled to engage in work that is not suitable for their physical well-being, such as heavy lifting, due to the low standard of living and the deteriorating economic conditions in the region.
Those workers complain about the low wages and the long working hours. They work in commercial companies, warehouses, restaurants, and households, earning a low daily wage, between 16,000 SYP (about $2) to 30,000 SYP ($4) per 10 to 12 hours.
Umm Ali, (a pseudonym), has been working for a food company as a daily worker for seven years with no legal contract to preserve her rights.
She noted that if any work-related injuries occur, the company covers the medical expenses.
On Jan.31, a number of women’s organizations discussed the legal protection for women working in the private sector during a forum held in Qamishli.
The forum was attended by workers as well as human rights activists and representatives from institutions affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Amsha Ali Taha, 44, participated in the forum to talk about her struggles, Taha works as a domestic worker for a family, earning 250,000 SYP per month. She is a divorced mother from Raqqa, currently residing in Qamishli, and she is the sole breadwinner for her seven children.
The mother told North Press that she is working hard to secure her children’s expenses, and that her employee provide her with a home for free.
The northeastern regions of Syria have been facing an economic crisis for years due to repeated Turkish attacks on the area, coupled with the soaring prices of goods and the depreciation of the Syrian pound against the U.S. dollar.
During her day off on Fridays, Taha engages in house cleaning and carpet washing. She also works part-time in the evenings at a restaurant
Moreover, the woman suffers from severe backache as a result of the exertion she puts into securing a living, which has compelled her to temporarily suspend her evening job until she recovers.
No legal protection
The AANES has implemented laws to protect women’s rights in the workforce. They have a system of joint presidency that allows women to participate in decision-making. They also promote equal wages, fair working hours, and aim for 40% representation of women in the Legislative Council, among other provisions in the social contract.
Narjis Youssef, an administrator in the Social Affairs and Labor Board, emphasized the need for specific laws that clarify the rights and responsibilities of employees and workers in any institution.
Within the AANES’s institutions, women’s rights can be considered somewhat protected, except for specific jobs that require qualifications, experience, or expertise.
However, in the private sector, there is a noticeable lack of specific laws protecting the rights of women in the workforce. This falls outside the jurisdiction of the Social Affairs and Labor Authority, as the private sector workforce is associated with the Labor Union.
Since the establishment of the Labor Union in northeast Syria, they have not focused on developing specific laws to safeguard women’s rights in the private sector. This includes areas such as equal pay, defining working hours, preventing exploitation, and other related issues, according to Youssef.
Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of considering women’s health in the workplace. She believes that work should be suitable for women in terms of physical exertion.
After the start of the Syrian war, the region has witnessed a noticeable openness, particularly concerning women’s matters. Many women have joined the workforce, often without considering the existing laws or internal regulations of institutions.
Youssef emphasized that when women enter the workforce, they often don’t inquire about the laws that protect their rights. This makes it easier for employers to dismiss them without facing consequences.
Their primary concerns revolve around their deteriorating living conditions, as well as how to secure their children’s needs.
The official strongly emphasized the urgent need for specific legislation to safeguard women’s rights in the private sector. Additionally, it is crucial to raise awareness among women and employers regarding these laws, ensuring that both parties are well-informed about their respective rights and responsibilities.