4 January 2025
The livelihoods of thousands of Syrian public sector workers are under severe threat as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidates its control in parts of Syria. The group's recent rise to power has triggered sweeping reviews of employment statuses, leaving many fearing dismissal and financial ruin.
Mudar al-Asaad, a former military officer turned engineer, is among those facing an uncertain future. “I’m constantly worried about how to provide for my children,” he said. Al-Asaad, like many others, may lose his job as HTS reportedly plans to terminate contracts tied to the previous government, particularly targeting Ministry of Defence employees, families of martyrs, war-wounded individuals, and discharged soldiers.
Darin, a French language graduate, has also felt the sting of the regime change. During a recent interview with the HTS administration, she was asked, “What is your religion?”—a question she described as both intrusive and unsettling. Unable to secure employment since the change in power, Darin now struggles to support her family amid the spiraling economic crisis.
Public sector employees and pensioners across HTS-controlled territories have been hit hard by salary suspensions, adding to the mounting despair. A promised 400% salary increase by the HTS government has yet to materialize, and there is no indication that it will apply retroactively, leaving families without the means to survive.
This financial strain is exacerbated by the halting of pensions for individuals previously tied to the regime forces, as well as widespread layoffs and systemic restructuring under the new administration.
The situation underscores the deepening economic and social challenges facing Syrians as they navigate an uncertain future under HTS rule.
