Reports | 9 04 2026
Habib Shhada
A retired government employee now faces a grueling journey almost as demanding as the decades he spent at work: what he calls the "pension collection" trip, after more than three decades moving between government offices in western Syria’s Latakia.
The septuagenarian waits for his retirement pay, enduring hours-long lines at the postal counter—a struggle repeated every month.
He travels long distances from his village to the city, where dedicated counters handle retirees’ payments. With bitter irony, he says, “By 2026, my pension no longer even covers transportation costs from my village to the city a few times over.”
Delays in pension disbursements come as most government agencies struggle to make payments, a problem attributed to mounting financial pressures on the Social Security Institution. This situation threatens the pension system’s role as a pillar of social support. Experts note that paying pensions in Syria has become a persistent challenge, reflecting the tension between social obligations and the state’s economic constraints.
From Right to Burden
What was once a hard-earned right has turned into a “burden” eagerly awaited despite its meager amount. The problem worsened when retirees were excluded from a recent 50% salary increase.
In March, the transitional government issued a decree granting a 50% raise to government workers, yet it excluded roughly 476,000 retirees, worsening their plight amid rampant inflation. Authorities have promised upcoming adjustments and system-wide reforms to ensure financial sustainability and improve services.
“Delayed Charity”
Retirees face compounding crises, turning their pensions into what some describe as “delayed charity”—arriving late and quickly consumed by grocery bills and medical expenses. One retiree reported receiving 850,000 Syrian pounds per month, more than half of which goes toward cancer medication provided by state hospitals.
Another former civil servant notes that retirement is no longer a “warrior’s rest” but a source of constant anxiety over financial and health security, with her pension covering barely ten days of expenses.
These retirees are not exceptions; they represent a broader cohort of over 476,000 individuals facing recurring monthly struggles as the transitional government fails to find a permanent solution. Promises of future raises and pension system reforms remain unfulfilled.
Maintaining Purchasing Power
Experts argue that pensions should not remain fixed at their nominal value but must be adjusted to preserve purchasing power amid inflation and rising costs.
Fixed pensions gradually lose value, reducing retirees’ ability to cover essentials such as food, medicine, and rent. Periodic adjustments tied to inflation indices are essential to maintain a decent standard of living.
Why Pension Payments Are Delayed
Delays stem from Syria’s economic hardships and liquidity shortages, despite the Finance Ministry’s assurances that pensions are processed between the first and fifth of each month under the Social Security system.
Administrative experts insist that pensions are a right and must be paid on time. They are part of a comprehensive social security obligation, not discretionary funds, and should remain protected as mandatory deductions from employees’ salaries under Syrian Social Security law.
Experts note that delays result from a combination of bureaucratic complexity and limited banking liquidity, exposing weaknesses in financial management and making adherence to scheduled payments increasingly difficult.
The postal service cites financial shortfalls and delayed transfers from banks as reasons for repeated delays.
Aleppo – Rozana
Managing the Pension System
The pension system relies on current funding, with payments drawn from contributions of active workers rather than invested assets, adding pressure on financial stability.
Effective management of funds is crucial to avoid delays, while long-term sustainability depends on efficient administration and clear social priorities.
Experts emphasize that pension reform requires financial balance, flexible resource management, and operational transparency to protect retirees’ rights.
Failure to address delayed payments is not merely administrative; it represents a moral failure to uphold the state’s obligations toward those who spent their lives in public service.