Washington's Signal
A bipartisan group of United States lawmakers has publicly welcomed Syria's effort to modernize its labor law, calling it a step that could draw American backing for the country's recovery. The remarks, from Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Joni Ernst and Representative Joe Wilson, were made public on 10 October 2026.
The lawmakers said they hoped for swift movement once the revised law is referred to the newly formed People's Assembly. They stopped short of announcing any funding or approving specific projects.
What the Finance Tool Offers
At the center of the message was the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which American law allows to support projects in countries that adopt and enforce internationally recognized worker-rights standards. The lawmakers framed Syria's labor reform as a possible gateway to that financing.
No project has yet been cleared, and the statement described eligibility rather than a commitment. Eligibility, the lawmakers indicated, follows both the adoption and the enforcement of those worker-rights standards.
Damascus Rewrites the Rules
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Hind Kabawat said the ministry is amending both the labor law and the social-insurance law, in consultation with stakeholders and with representatives of workers and employers. She said the goal is to adapt to changes in the labor market and to strengthen social protection.
From 1959 to Today
The principal statute governing private-sector labor relations is Law No. 17 of 2010, which replaced Law No. 91 of 1959. It covers individual and collective contracts, wages, working hours, leave, termination, compensation for unjustified dismissal, trade unions, and the settlement of labor disputes.
Public-sector and agricultural workers fall under separate legislation and are not affected by these particular changes.
Relief for Employers
Alongside the overhaul, Decree No. 29 of 2026 waives late-payment fines, interest, and surcharges on overdue social-insurance contributions for registered employers, provided they settle the arrears within one year of the decree's issuance.