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STREET TALK
What do you think of the country’s new labour law?
A new ‘business friendly’ labour law issued on April 12 is already proving controversial. The law includes 287 articles and replaces two texts that were 51 and 48 years old, respectively. At the heart of the debate surrounding the new law is Article 65, which gives employers the right to fire their employees without justification and only provide limited compensation. Syria Today hit the streets to gauge public reaction.
Samer al-Haj, 27, employee in the private sector:
“Whatever the new law stipulates, law breakers still exist. The law is fine, although it could have been better. I think there are some parts of the new law which are unclear such as Article 65 about unjustified layoffs and Article 95 about strikes. The new law has some positive aspects. For example, it states that the private sector must provide its employees with medical care and free meals if they are working long hours. The main challenge now is implementing it in a way which protects the rights of workers and holds employers who violate the new regulations accountable.”
 Ahmad Mustapha, 24, marketing manager:
“When I signed my contract to start working in a restaurant, I was forced to sign a resignation form at the same time. This meant my employer could fire me from my job whenever he wanted to. I hope the new law will resolve this issue, especially since there are a large number of people who also find themselves in this position. I haven’t yet read the new law, but I hope it will give us greater security in the new social market economy.”
Marwan Hassan, 53, industrialist:
“I want contracts to be flexible so that either party can terminate them or they can be renewed once they have expired. The new contracts will give more freedom to both employees and employers. The new law will improve the performance of workers and increase productivity and efficiency. People will understand their work duties and commitments better now.”
 Ahmad al-Tabbaa, 26, student:
“The new law gives the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour added responsibilities. If an employee demands his rights and his or her employer does not like the demands, it’s much easier now for the employer to terminate the contract and sack the worker. In accordance with the new law, the ministry will make the employer pay compensation if this happens, but it will not be very much. With these employees out of work, the ministry will also have to increase its efforts to fight unemployment.”
Khaled Halabi, 32, restaurant manager:
“This law will play a major and essential role in developing the economy. It will attract investment because every potential investor in a new country first looks at its labour laws.” |
