Syrian Arab Republic - Minimum Wages - 2009

20 May 2009

Labour Code,
Act No. 91 of 1959 Al-jarida al-rasmiya, 7 April 1959, No. 71bis B, p.1 as amended to 2000.

General Administrative Instructions Concerning the Rules and Procedures to be Applied to the Regulation of the Work of Wage Determination Committees,
4 September 1961.

Organization of Agricultural Relations Act,
No. 134 of 1958 as amended to 1963, Legislative Series 1963 - Syria 1.

Basic Regulations of Public Servants Act,
Act No. 1 of 1985, Al-Jarida al-Rasmiya, 1985-01-23, N. 4, p. 95-153.

Presidential Office Ordinance No. 24 Increasing Civil Servants’ Wages;
Al Jarida Al Ramiyya, Syria, 2008-04-01, Vol. 1, No. 20, pp 844-846.

Order No. 1063 relating to fixing the general minimum wages of employees in the private sector in all states,
of 21 May 2006.

Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour Decree No 298 on the setting the minimum wage for agricultural workers, defining tasks for minors and shared tasks for workers,
of 25 February 2007, Al Jarida Al Rasmiyah, Syria, 2007-04-28, Vol. 1, No. 13, pp. 711-716.

Means any person, male or female, working for a wage of any kind in the service of an Employer under the latter’s authority or supervision.

Means any person or body corporate employing one or more workers for a wage of any kind.

Means everything received by the Worker in consideration for work, including: commission; benefits in kind and any cost of living and family allowances; and ex gratia payments made to the worker in addition to the wage.

One general minimum wage rate is fixed for employees in the private sector in all states.

In addition, minimum wage rates are set for private sector workers in each region in Syria by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour. These rates are set in accordance with the proposals made by regional minimum wage determination committees, made up of four delegates: one from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour; one from the Ministry of Industry or Ministry of Economic Affairs; one employers’ representative; and one workers’ representative. The Committee may only take a decision after consultation with the employers’ and workers’ organisations concerned.
Minimum wages for agricultural workers are set following the proposals made by regional agricultural minimum wage determination committees. In addition to the members set forth above, these committees shall also include a delegate from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Separate minimum wage provisions govern civil servants.

Wage rates may also be determined in collective agreements, however they must be more favourable to the worker than the minimum wages set by the government.

Yes - Wages should be sufficient to meet workers’ basic needs. Basic needs include food, housing, clothes, medical treatment and other basic expenses.

Yes - Determinations of minimum wages should include a study of living expenses.

Yes - Minimum wage determination committees must consider the potential and economic realities of the occupation in question when making minimum wage proposals.

In general, all workers are covered by the minimum wage regulations.

One general minimum wage rate has been fixed for employees in the private sector in all states. In addition, numerous specific minimum wage rates are set for specific sectors, occupations, regions and groups of workers.

Yes. Numerous different minimum wages are set up for different occupations (e.g. workers in first class restaurants).

Yes. Different minimum wages are set inter alia for Civil Servants and agricultural workers.

Yes. Joint committees will propose the fixing of wages in each province or governorship to the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour.

Apprentices are only covered by the minimum wage provision relevant to their occupation in the final stage of their apprenticeship. Wage rates prior to the final stage shall be determined by Tripartite Committees established by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.

6,110 Syrian Liras - general minimum wage rate has been fixed for employees in the private sector in all states

n.a.

Wages may be made up of allowances paid in kind. A minimum wage determination committee may set forth the in-kind portion of the wage by considering whether the wages paid are adequate to meet the worker’s basic needs and whether the estimated value of any in-kind allowance is just and fair.

Yes

Minimum wage determination committees meet annually to propose minimum wage rates.

Labour Inspectors may enter workplaces and carry out the necessary inspections in order to ensure that the provisions of Labour Code and orders (including minimum wage decrees) made in accordance with the Code are complied with.

Employers who fail to pay workers the relevant minimum wage shall result in a fine of between 50 and 500 Syrian pounds. In addition, the Employer must pay the Worker the difference between the wages actually paid and the minimum wage.