Returnees to Interim Government institutions face pressure to resign

Tens of thousands of government employees in Syria were placed on leave following the rise of a new authority in Damascus after the fall of the previous Syrian regime. These leaves extended for more than three months.

With the expiration of the paid leave period for state institution workers, pursuant to an official decision issued by the Secretariat of the Interim Government’s Presidency on August 27, mandating the return of employees to work starting September 1, returning employees across various institutions have been subjected to pressures by the newly appointed administrations under the Interim Government.

According to reports gathered by ANHA agency, several employees have indicated that the authorities in Damascus are increasing pressure on returning staff, aiming to "push them to resign or leave their jobs, especially within government institutions in the capital."

Testimonies reveal that interviews conducted with returnees disproportionately focus on their family backgrounds, particularly relatives who served in the former army or held leadership positions. Several employees reported that wives and relatives of some “officers” have been humiliated, with job offers made that do not match their qualifications, sparking widespread discontent.

At the Ministry of Education, sources stated that some employees who returned to work after an eight-month hiatus were asked to leave their posts again under the pretext of being "relatives of the deceased" from the former regime, despite their appointments being made through official competitive exams. One employee, who requested anonymity due to security concerns and holds a category one supervisor position, confirmed to ANHA agency that he worked for over five years, yet the Interim Government refused to recognize his appointment decision.

Additionally, those on temporary contracts were asked to submit resignations and had their contracts non-renewed, although they had also been appointed through official competitions.

Employees describe these measures as arbitrary, fitting within a policy aimed at reducing workforce numbers or transferring employees to other institutions without clear justification. They are replaced by contractors organized by the Interim Government’s administrations, often from Idlib, who lack sufficient experience yet receive higher salaries paid in US dollars.

Information from returning employees indicates that some interviewers lack university qualifications despite evaluating category one employees, some of whom have held senior administrative positions with over twenty years of experience.

Furthermore, returnees have been questioned about the military service of their relatives in the "army" (referring to the former Syrian regime’s forces), which they consider a violation of professional standards and an insult to employees returning from forced paid leave.

Employees confirm that "the majority affected by these procedures belong to the Alawite sect," raising questions about the motives behind these policies and calling for a review of mechanisms dealing with returning employees to ensure their legal and professional rights are respected.

On August 29, our agency published a report titled "Unknown Fate Awaits Tens of Thousands of Employees in Syria," addressing this issue, followed by another report on September 1 titled "Return to Work Ban Violates Presidential Decree on Syrian Employees."

These reports highlighted the suffering of employees due to actions and measures taken by the Interim Government-appointed administrations replacing former institution management, and the policies they have pursued.

ANHA