Strict directive in Damascus: No extortion, no bribery, and respect is the basis of interaction.

The Damascus Governorate has issued a new circular addressed to all directorates and employees within its ranks, emphasizing the need to provide the best possible service to citizens quickly, while fully committing to work ethics and administrative discipline. The governorate has urged employees to interact kindly with citizens and to use kind words as the basis for communication. At the same time, it warned against any form of job exploitation or citizen extortion, stressing that bribery - whether direct or disguised as a gift - is strictly prohibited and offenders will be held accountable and face legal consequences. The circular includes a set of directives aimed at improving the work environment, such as the necessity of adhering to official working hours without personal use, maintaining personal hygiene and workplace cleanliness, wearing appropriate and formal attire without excessive adornment by males or females. Furthermore, the governorate emphasized the exclusive performance of job duties and refraining from any actions outside the scope of work, calling for the rational use of water and electricity, maintaining office equipment and electronic devices, and prohibiting smoking inside government buildings due to its negative impact on health and the environment. The governorate prohibited hosting any form of parties, playing music, or food invitations in the workplace, considering receiving friends or family members during official working hours as unacceptable behavior. The circular concluded by emphasizing the importance of refraining from using offensive or inappropriate language, and exhibiting behavior befitting the nature of public work that reflects a civilized image of the institution and its employees.