Fate of 151 oil technicians in Homs remains unclear

A total of 151 technicians working at the Central Region Oil Fields Directorate, affiliated with the Syrian Petroleum Company, face uncertainty over their employment future amid local accounts of administrative measures that included the withdrawal of attendance cards and informal notifications to some workers that their employment had been suspended. According to sources, the workers have not received written decisions specifying the nature or reasons for the measures.

According to information obtained by ANHA correspondent in Homs from technicians, the affected workers are graduates of oil institutes, and the measures were imposed collectively. A list reportedly containing the names of workers whose employment had allegedly been terminated has also been circulated, but it bears no official signature or stamp.

Affected families are calling for an official clarification of the workers’ fate and for confirmation of whether the measures involve termination of service, suspension from work, or the reorganization of their employment status under the new company. They are also demanding clarification of the legal basis for the measures and the mechanisms available to employees to challenge them.

Meanwhile, published official information indicates that technical staff continue to play a role at the Central Region Oil Fields Directorate. In June, the Ministry of Energy announced the resumption of operations of an oil drilling rig following its maintenance and rehabilitation by local technical and engineering personnel, praising their ability to restore equipment to service using national capabilities.

Statements linked to the Syrian Petroleum Company have also indicated that supporting technical staff is among the issues included in rehabilitation plans. The company said it was following up on a salary-scale project for employees during a visit to the Central Region Oil Fields Directorate in Homs.

As of the publication of this report, no circular or decision published by the Ministry of Energy or the Syrian Petroleum Company has been found officially confirming the termination of the 151 technicians’ employment. Nor have the government sources reviewed provided a direct explanation of the measures attributed to the directorate’s administration. However, firsthand testimonies confirm that such measures have taken place.

The core of the issue therefore remains the need for an official clarification of the workers’ legal and employment status, including whether the measures form part of a broader workforce reorganization and new contracts, or constitute separate decisions to terminate employment or suspend workers, along with clarification of employees’ rights and available avenues of appeal.

The case has raised questions among those affected about the mechanisms for transferring workers to the new employment system, the criteria used to determine staffing needs, and the need to ensure that administrative decisions are clear and formally communicated to those concerned, particularly technical personnel with specialized experience in the oil and gas sector.

ANHA