Preventing employees’ return to work violates Syrian presidential decree

Contrary to the official decision issued on August 27 by the General Secretariat of the Transitional Government Presidency, which stipulates the return of employees to work starting today (September 1), employees were prevented from returning to their workplaces.

The decree specifies that workers who had been granted paid leave are to resume their duties as of September 1, 2025.

Employees of the Latakia Port Directorate, who had been forced on leave three months ago, were surprised to find that the port administration claimed to be unaware of the decree and dismissed its validity, telling staff, “The decision may not be correct.”

Port employees covered by the return-to-work decision, but barred from returning according to the port director, protested outside the institution, stating that preventing their return to work is an unjust decision.

Similarly, employees of the Customs Department in Damascus were also prevented from returning to work today, as they reported upon arriving at the department’s administration.

The fate of tens of thousands of Syrian employees remains uncertain, while Transitional Government institutions continue to label them as “remnants,” in the absence of any legal protection.

In an extensive report published by ANHA agency on August 29, regarding how officials of the Transitional Government in Syria have dealt with employees following the issuance of the decree, we highlighted the suffering of these employees and the uncertain fate awaiting them.

A-H 

ANHA