Pound-Only Payroll Takes Over
The Syrian government has shifted all state salaries into Syrian pounds (SYP), ending a phase in which many employees had been receiving part or all of their pay in US dollars (USD). Seven sources tied to the ministries of Defense and Interior confirmed that the transition, which unfolded over roughly two to three months depending on the sector, is now complete across both pre- and post-transition hires.
The change closes a dual-currency phase that began on 8 December 2024, when authorities started supplementing wages with dollar payments to cushion public workers from the pound's slide.
Parallel-Rate Conversion in Contracts
State contracts continue to cite a monthly minimum of USD 300, but the dollar amount is now converted into pounds using the parallel market rate plus an additional 300 old Syrian pounds per dollar. Employees therefore receive a pound figure that tracks the unofficial exchange rate rather than a fixed official peg.
For reference, the Syrian pound traded around 13,200 to the dollar on 23 April 2026, after weakening roughly 8 percent over the past month.
Decree 67 and the May Raise
In March 2026, President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree 67, which mandates a 50% salary increase for state workers effective 1 May 2026. A companion text, Decree 68, raises wages for specific public entities.
Alongside the raise, the minimum monthly wage for public sector workers has been set at 12,560 Syrian pounds under the new denomination.
Who Is Left Out
The 50% increase does not reach workers hired under the former Salvation Government's employment rules — Law 53 of 2021 — nor does it apply to certain specialized bodies, including segments of the atomic energy sector. Those groups remain on legacy pay scales even as colleagues in the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Health, Higher Education, Education, and Awqaf move onto the new grid.
What It Means for the Pound
By settling public payrolls in pounds, the treasury reduces the volume of dollars leaving its accounts each month to fund wages, easing one recurring drain on foreign reserves. At the same time, pegging pay to the parallel rate transmits every move in the unofficial market directly into household incomes, making living standards more sensitive to currency swings.