Minister of Finance: New Salaries in Syria to be Paid Starting July 2025

The Syrian Minister of Finance, Mohammad Yasser Bernia, announced that the increase in salaries and wages, issued by a presidential decree from President Ahmed Al-Shar'a, will be implemented starting from the upcoming month of July, explaining that it is a first step in a comprehensive economic reform aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens.

In an interview with the SANA news agency, Minister Bernia offered his condolences to the families of the martyrs and victims who fell in the terrorist bombing that targeted the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, affirming that the tragic incident cast a shadow over the joy of Syrians for the salary increase, but at the same time, he emphasized that Syria will remain resilient and strong in the face of terrorism.

The Minister revealed that the recent increase is the largest in Syria's history, where the salaries of workers have increased from 400,000 or 500,000 Syrian pounds to 1.2 or 1.5 million Syrian pounds, which is three times the previous salary, and this increase includes all state employees, retirees, and those on paid leave.

According to the Minister, the annual cost of the increase ranges between 1.2 and 1.3 billion dollars, to be borne by the state's general treasury, as part of a plan to stimulate the economy and improve purchasing power.

Bernia confirmed that the reforms will not stop at this increase, but will include raising salaries by a percentage that may exceed 400% in the near future, in addition to qualitative steps to improve citizens' income.

In long-awaited news, the Minister of Finance announced that the government is currently working on issuing a decision to exempt low salaries and wages from taxes, a decision under study and expected to be issued soon, to alleviate the burdens on the most needy segments.

The Minister also acknowledged the real suffering of citizens when receiving their salaries from ATMs and banks, confirming that during an extensive meeting involving ministries, financial institutions, and banks, a series of immediate and subsequent measures were agreed upon, to be implemented during the current and upcoming month, with the aim of facilitating cash transactions and ending the long waiting ordeal.

The Minister concluded by emphasizing the government's commitment to implementing a comprehensive reform program aimed at improving living standards and stabilizing financial stability, indicating that these measures mark the beginning of a long path of structural improvements.