DAMASCUS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Syria's interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa on Friday issued a decree to increase wages and salaries by 50 percent for employees in the public sector and state-affiliated entities, in a bid to improve living standards.
The decree covers personnel in government ministries, public institutions, state-owned enterprises and administrative departments, as well as joint ventures in which the state holds a stake of no less than 50 percent.
Under the decree, the adjustment covers fixed salaries in effect at the time of issuance and includes promotion-related allowances under existing law. The decree also extends to temporary, daily-paid and contract workers, including part-time employees and those paid on a production basis, under specified conditions.
Meanwhile, the decree sets the general minimum wage for sectors not previously covered at 12,560 Syrian pounds (about 1.1 U.S. dollars) per month, effective from May 1. ■
