Penalty Relief Confirmed
The General Social Insurance Institution has reported that 12,741 employers benefited from Legislative Decree No. 29 of 2026, which waives the interest, penalties, and additional charges that had accumulated on overdue social insurance contributions. The figures were disclosed on 22 June 2026.
The decree was issued in February 2026 by President Ahmad al-Shara, setting a one-year window for employers to settle their outstanding contributions without the added charges.
Amounts Paid and Waived
The institution's director general, Hassan Khateeb, said the contributions collected under the measure exceeded 37.94 billion old Syrian pounds (SYP), while the charges written off surpassed 10.12 billion pounds.
The two figures indicate that most of the money brought in represented principal contributions rather than penalties, with the waived amount equal to roughly a quarter of what was collected. The relief applies to delayed contributions recorded for March, April, and May.
Committee for Hardship Cases
A temporary committee was formed to assess hardship claims from enterprises affected since 15 March 2011. It brings together the institution's director, representatives of the industry and commerce federations, and a delegate from the education ministry.
The committee gives struggling businesses a route to settle their position rather than face the full weight of accrued obligations at once.
How Employers Qualify
To claim the exemption, employers must submit a written request and the required documents to their local insurance branch, along with completed insurance forms and payment of their full contributions. The appropriate branch office handles each application individually.
Stated Objectives
According to Khateeb, the step is intended to collect insurance revenue without adding burdens, support settlements with employers, and ease financial pressure on the private sector. He linked the measure to wider efforts to sustain production and keep workplaces operating.
The one-year window set by the decree means employers who have not yet settled still have time to do so under the same terms.