Retirees in Qamishlo protest to demand their salaries, which have been suspended for a year

The city of Qamishli witnessed a protest today organized by the "Retirees' Solidarity Group," with the participation of a number of retired employees who have not received their salaries and financial entitlements for nearly a year. The protesters demanded that the interim government expedite the disbursement of salaries and facilitate the registration process for new retirees.

Participants held banners that read: "Our rights are not a favor, but an entitlement," and "We demand the acceptance of new retiree files." They also chanted slogans demanding their right to a dignified life and the payment of their overdue financial entitlements.

The protesters emphasized that the continued delay in salaries directly impacts their living conditions, especially given the rising cost of living and the difficulty in securing basic necessities and medicine. They pointed out that retirees are among the groups most affected by the current crisis.

In this context, Jan Rasoul, an official with the Retirees' Solidarity Group, told ANHA agency: "We haven't received our pensions for over a year, and this is a great injustice to retirees. Our aim in this demonstration is to demand our legitimate rights and highlight the suffering of retirees who are no longer able to secure even their most basic daily needs."

He added that retirees have repeatedly contacted official bodies, but the responses have consistently focused on the need to contact the relevant authorities in Damascus to address the pension issue. He believes this only exacerbates the retirees' suffering and complicates the process of obtaining their entitlements.

He also pointed out another problem: the refusal to accept applications from new retirees, citing the lack of readiness of the relevant departments in Qamishlo. This has resulted in a number of retirees remaining unregistered.

For his part, retiree Nawaf Othman said: "I haven't received my pension for seven months. When we go to the post offices, they tell us to activate the pensions, and when we contact the social security office, we are told that the problem is related to the lack of response from the relevant authorities in Damascus. Today, there are thousands of retirees suffering from the same problem."

For her part, retired pensioner Fatima Tammo explained that she hasn't received her pension for about a year and a half, adding, "Every department refers us to another, while our pensions remain suspended. We're not asking for favors; we're demanding our legal rights, which were guaranteed to us by our long years of service."

The protesters concluded their demonstration by reiterating their demands for the disbursement of overdue pensions, the completion of registration procedures for new retirees, and the implementation of practical steps to address the situation of retirees and ensure they receive their financial entitlements without delay.

Sh-S

ANHA