Syrian parliamentarians have demanded a percentage of employees' salaries be paid in foreign currency due to the high dollar exchange rates and the increasing cost of living.
Finance Minister Ismail Ismail refused the request, saying that it violates Syria’s national sovereignty.
During the session dedicated to discussing the draft law of the state budget for 2016, the minister said the government has worked as much as possible to improve the standard of living of citizens, and it continues to secure commodities and energy, as well as providing all possible support to small and medium enterprises, as they are the main engine of economic activity in Syria.
It is worth mentioning the section allocated for salaries, wages and compensation funds in the 2016 draft budget is estimated at 372 billion Syrian pounds, an increase of 56 billion pounds from the budget of 2015.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
