Syria announces 50% salary hike for state employees on Eid

2026-03-20 - 15:10

DAMASCUS — Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced Friday a 50% increase in salaries for state employees, coinciding with the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, as part of a broader package of economic and service measures.The announcement came during an Eid reception at the People’s Palace in Damascus, according to the state news agency SANA.Al-Sharaa said the government has also approved a new minimum wage — without specifying its value — along with additional increases for specialized sectors including doctors and engineers.He added that Syria recorded a “budget surplus” for the first time in 2025, noting that the 2026 budget has reached $10.5 billion, nearly three times higher than 2025 and five times higher than 2024.The president said the country’s GDP reached around $32 billion in 2025, with expectations of rising to between $50 billion and $60 billion in the coming years.On reconstruction, Al-Sharaa said resolving the issue of displacement camps and facilitating the return of displaced persons are top priorities for the next phase.He also announced the establishment of a $3 billion government fund to support infrastructure in affected areas, including rural parts of Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Latakia, as well as Ghouta and Daraa.Budgets have also been allocated to improve services in eastern provinces such as Deir Ezzor, Hasakah and Raqqa, which he said account for 25% of Syria’s territory and have restored key resources in energy, food and water.In his remarks, Al-Sharaa stressed Syria’s commitment to avoiding regional conflicts, saying Damascus is carefully managing its position to stay out of escalating tensions while maintaining relations with neighboring and international partners.