Dismissal of daily-wage workers at Sweida Water Directorate sparks controversy

The decision to dismiss daily-wage workers at the Sweida Water Directorate triggered significant controversy after the renewal of temporary contracts was restricted to cases of utmost necessity, as part of Syria’s transitional government plan to address administrative inefficiency and rationalize human resources.

Decision No. 2533/S, issued on August 27, 2025, emphasized that no temporary contract should be renewed, nor any new competitions held, without prior approval from the General Secretariat, and that retirees’ services should only be extended in exceptional cases.

Previously, the Ministry of Energy had revoked its approval for renewing the contracts of 979 daily-wage workers, despite having issued a letter on March 4, 2025, allowing extensions.

The ministry also requested that the directorate redistribute workers according to actual needs and adopt a shift system, limiting the number of employees at each station to three.

The directorate employs approximately 3,000 staff, including 1,000 permanent employees, 900 on annual contracts, and around 1,100 daily-wage workers; a number sources described as high compared to similar institutions, creating significant financial pressure with expected monthly salaries reaching 5 billion Syrian pounds.

While official sources justified the decision on financial and administrative grounds, a number of affected workers argued that the sudden implementation would disrupt the operation of water stations and deprive hundreds of families of their livelihood, calling for a gradual solution that safeguards their living rights.

A-H 

ANHA