Employment
The Labour Law 2010, applying to a drastically reduced formal economy
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 governs private employment, replacing the 1959 code and liberalising dismissal. Its practical reach is limited by the collapse of formal employment since 2011.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National in law; enforcement capacity varies by region.
Governing law
- Labour Law No. 17 of 2010
- Social Insurance Law No. 92 of 1959, as amended
In practice
The 2010 law was drafted as part of a liberalising economic programme and made dismissal easier than under the 1959 code, while providing for a 48-hour week, notice periods and compensation for unlawful termination. Since 2011 the formal labour market has contracted severely, informality dominates, and real wages have fallen dramatically with currency depreciation. Child labour and unsafe work in reconstruction and agriculture are documented concerns. The statute remains formally in force, so it is the correct legal starting point, but describing Syrian employment conditions by reference to it alone would be misleading.