The Syrian Future Movement believes that the widespread strike carried out by workers at the Zenobia Ceramics Company in the al-Kiswah area of \u200b\u200brural Damascus on Monday, June 8, 2026, which included the company’s sanitary ware, granite, ceramics, cardboard, and adhesive factories, is a true indicator of the extent of the suffering endured by Syrian workers in the private sector and reveals the deep gap between current wages and the escalating cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that these peaceful labor protests, which came after the failure to fulfill promises made to workers following a previous strike, place the Syrian government and employers before their legal and moral responsibilities to protect workers’ rights and guarantee fair wages commensurate with the effort expended and the requirements of a dignified life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Syrian Future Movement bases its follow-up on this issue on documented information from national media reports dated June 8, 2026, which can be summarized as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First<\/strong>: Workers staged a general strike to protest low wages, with daily wages not exceeding $3.50 USD, an amount insufficient to meet basic family needs under the current economic conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second<\/strong>: The workers’ demands include salary increases commensurate with the continuous rise in the cost of living, improved working conditions, provision of health insurance, and guarantees of respect for workers’ rights within the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third<\/strong>: The workers emphasized that their action is solely focused on demanding their rights within the private sector and has no political dimensions, reflecting a mature understanding of union activism and rights awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth<\/strong>: This strike comes amidst escalating complaints from workers in several private Syrian industrial facilities regarding low wages and declining purchasing power, coupled with the continued rise in prices of basic goods and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement recalls that since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2014, the new Syrian government has adopted a series of decisions and legislation aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens and rebuilding the national economy. Among the most prominent of these decisions are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First<\/strong>: In March 2016, President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Decrees No. 67 and 68, which stipulated a 50% increase in public sector salaries and wages and introduced a new minimum wage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second<\/strong>: Decree No. 67 set the minimum wage at 12,560 new Syrian pounds (approximately US$110) per month for employees in the public, private, joint, and cooperative sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This figure reflects a significant and gradual increase compared to pre-liberation levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third<\/strong>: The 2026 budget, totaling approximately US$10.5 billion, allocated nearly US$4.5 billion to salaries and wages, reflecting the government’s priority of improving citizens’ living standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth<\/strong>: In May 2026, Finance Minister Mohammed Yasser Barneh announced the implementing regulations for Decree No. 67, stipulating that the disbursement of the increases would begin during the last week of May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth<\/strong>: The government adopted an economic approach based on gradual liberalization, not “blind liberalization,” while working to attract investments and create new job opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement bases its analysis on a range of reliable statistics and reports that confirm the dire living conditions that prompted the Zenobia Company workers to strike:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First<\/strong>: According to a World Food Programme report issued in June 2026, more than 80% of Syrian families cannot adequately meet their food needs. The escalating cost of living has pushed the basic food basket to approximately 24,000 Syrian pounds, and even with a planned 50% increase, income covers only a third of a family’s basic needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second<\/strong>: The World Food Programme estimates that only 18% of the population is food secure, while the vast majority of the Syrian people continue to suffer from varying degrees of food insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third<\/strong>: Based on 2026 estimates, the percentage of the population living below the poverty line in Syria is 90.5%, reflecting the depth of the economic crisis left behind by the defunct Assad regime and the devastating war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth<\/strong>: Despite the noticeable improvement in GDP, which is projected to grow by approximately 10% in 2026, we emphasize that we are still in the initial stages of emerging from below the poverty line, despite successive increases in the minimum wage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth<\/strong>: Economic officials acknowledge that a significant percentage of the population in Syria lives in poverty, and that this requires increased economic activity and the attraction of more companies to create job opportunities that contribute to raising the standard of living for citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement believes that workers’ rights and the right to unionize are integral parts of the system of fundamental rights that must be protected in the new Syria. Workers, who have borne the brunt of years of war, siege, and oppression, are essential partners in building Syria’s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement affirms the following principles that should govern labor relations in the new Syria:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First<\/strong>, the right to a fair wage: Every worker has the right to a wage that guarantees them and their family a decent standard of living, commensurate with the workload and the cost of living. A daily wage of $3.50 is in no way sufficient to achieve this minimum level of human dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second<\/strong>, the right to organize: Workers have the right to form unions and workers’ committees to defend their interests and to strike peacefully as a legitimate means of demanding their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement commends the peaceful and civilized nature of this strike and the workers’ emphasis on its complete lack of any political dimensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third<\/strong>, the employer’s responsibility: Employers, especially in large companies like Zenobia Company, must bear their social responsibilities towards their workers, providing a safe working environment, fair wages, and health insurance that upholds human dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth<\/strong>, the state’s oversight role: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, and other relevant authorities, must fulfill their oversight role to ensure that employers comply with labor laws, occupational health and safety standards, and the guaranteed rights of workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth<\/strong>, linking wages to inflation: The Syrian Future Movement proposes adopting a periodic mechanism to review the minimum wage and link it to inflation indicators and the cost of living, to ensure that the purchasing power of wages does not erode over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on the foregoing, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, recommendations directed to the Syrian government and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, recommendations directed to employers and private companies:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, recommendations for workers and unions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth, recommendations for the media and civil society:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the transitional phase Syria is undergoing presents immense economic and social challenges, but it also offers a genuine opportunity to build a new model of social justice, one in which workers’ rights are founded on the solid principles of dignity, justice, and the rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement believes that the peaceful strike at the Zenobia Company and the workers’ protests in other facilities serve as a warning bell for both the government and employers. These voices demanding legitimate rights, if not heard and addressed seriously, could escalate into greater social unrest, complicating the democratic transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that social justice is a fundamental condition for the stability and continuity of the new state. A state that fails to protect the rights of its workers and leaves them prey to exploitation and poverty is a state that sows the seeds of instability within itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement concludes its statement by emphasizing that Syria’s future will be built only by its workers, farmers, engineers, doctors, teachers\u2026 and all Syrians who have endured years of suffering and who today need a state that recognizes their sacrifices, protects their dignity, and guarantees them a decent life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Achieving this goal is a shared responsibility between the government, employers, and civil society, and we must all work together for a Syria where justice and dignity prevail for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The strike by workers at Zenobia Ceramics Company in rural Damascus reveals the suffering of the workers and calls for improving their wages and working conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":64848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4841],"tags":[4706],"class_list":["post-64850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-popular-rules-office","tag-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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