Workers in Syria’s Tel Kocher fear their work will stop with winter
TEL KOCHER, Syria (North Press) – Hussein al-Ali, from Khoitla village in Tel Kocher (Yaroubiya) town in northeastern Syria’s Derik countryside, travels a few kilometers a day to reach al-Waleed border crossing with Iraq, where porters work for a daily wage.
Al-Ali and other workers in Tel Kocher fear that their work will stop in the winter due to the nature of their seasonal work, or face obstacles because they need to travel through dirt and rural roads.
Al-Ali, a father of four, complained about the difficulty of reaching his workplace at the crossing, “especially in winter, when I rely on passing cars and often walk away,” he said.
“I was forced to work at the crossing despite its difficulty and low wages, which do not exceed 5,000 Syrian pounds,” he added.
Mahmoud al-Mansi, a worker from Tel Kocher, said he has been a painter for 10 years and has settled in the town after moving between Damascus and Beirut for years in search of work.
He added that his work is now steady with construction projects in the area, but he fears that work will stop in winter. He also complained about the lack of health and social guarantees despite the risks of his profession.
Ayada al-Ajan, co-chair of the Laborers’ Committee in Tel Kocher, said that about 5,000 workers are registered with the committee.
The Laborers’ Committee in Tel Kocher holds seminars and workshops to educate workers about their rights, and gives them a 50 percent reduction in workers’ treatment expenses.
The committee also provides material compensation to workers who suffer work injuries, according to Al-Ajan.