HAMA, Syria (North Press) – Shop owners in central Syria’s Hama employ young women for low wages exploiting their need to work in light of the lack of young men, many of whom are wanted for military service or emigrated to another country.
The city of Hama is witnessing increasing numbers of young women working in shops and restaurants for low wages in light of the deteriorating living conditions in the Syrian government-held areas, so that more than one member in a family has to work in order to be able to secure their basic needs.
Inappropriate wages
Hazem al-Malih (a pseudonym), an unemployed computer institution graduate in the city of Hama, told North Press that he has been looking for job to secure his basic necessities for months, though he has not yet found a job.
The young man pointed out, “wages that shop owners pay are inappropriate for daily income in the city; I look for a job through which I can secure my basics.”
“Previously, referring to the time before the Syrian war, shop owners used to raise the wages when we refused to work for low wages; however, now, because there are girls who accept work for low wages, they are refusing to employ young men,” he added.
“The wages of two girls equals the wage of a young man,” he added.
Despite the low wage of 75,000 Syrian pounds (SYP) that Yosra al-Tliti (a pseudonym), an IDP from Homs, makes, “it is a small amount, but the harsh living conditions forced me to work for low wages.”
Years ago, the young women was forced to flee with her family to Hama and worked in a clothes shop in Ibn Rushd Market in order to secure her university costs, “because my family cannot secure those costs.”
Monthly wages in shops and companies range between 50 and 100 SYP, while in the big companies it ranges between 75 and 125 SYP.
Young people’s migration
Local residents believe that these wages are too little compared to the high prices within the city. However, store and restaurant owners complain about losses as a result of the depreciation of their goods and the absence of buyers due to high prices.
Hama governorate, like other Syrian governorates, is witnessing unprecedented price increase as a result of the collapse of the Syrian pound amidst the inability of most of families to secure their basics needs.
Hama shopkeeper Hussam al-Sawan (a pseudonym) said, “We cannot pay big wages to the employees in order to avoid losses because we have been witnessing depletion in the markets for more than a year.”
He believes that in addition to the low wages that they pay to women, the emigration of young people is another reason for the increasing numbers of young women working in shops and restaurants.
“Girls can stay at work for longer hours than men because they are not forced to travel due to the compulsory or reserve military service, so we prefer to employ girls,” he added.
Due to the deteriorating living conditions, some young men are forced to work in different specializations in light of the absence of other better alternatives.
Nabil Al-Qarra (a pseudonym), a mechanical engineer, said that after two years of not being able to find a job within his specialty, he was forced to work in the industry field.
He believes that the reason for the refusal of some young people to work for low wages is that they are responsible for securing their families’ expenses, not just their personal expenses. “The monthly cost of each family exceeds 2,000,000 SYP, and the wages that shops offer are inappropriate.”