NEWS CENTER – Hundreds of fuel tanker drivers staged a protest in Homs over income losses and alleged violations, while doctors in Damascus took to the streets against salary cuts, with some healthcare workers suspending non-emergency admissions.

 

A series of protests has recently unfolded in areas controlled by the Syrian Transitional Government. Fuel tanker drivers in Homs gathered in public squares citing income losses and alleged abuses, while healthcare workers in Damascus and its countryside launched strike actions in response to reduced wages. Economic conditions and recent policy decisions have contributed to rising public dissatisfaction in government-controlled territories.

 

HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS DEMONSTRATE

 

Approximately 500 fuel tanker drivers held a protest at the Clock Square in Homs. The drivers called on relevant authorities to ensure fairness in the fuel loading system, adhere to company decisions, and investigate violations affecting their rights and earnings.

 

Drivers from multiple cities joined the protest, demanding an inquiry into alleged misconduct by the company and urging that laws be applied equally to all. They stated that confusion in implementing directives has negatively affected their livelihoods and threatened thousands of families who depend on the sector as their primary source of income.

 

The drivers reported that although they are entitled to 50 percent of the diesel transportation fee to fuel stations, they have received only about 10 percent. They also said their salaries have gone unpaid for several months, placing them under significant financial strain. Nearly 1,000 tankers have reportedly suffered losses due to these issues, with the “Bewabe El Zehebiye” company, affiliated with the Al-Qatirji Group, named among the firms accused of violations.

 

DOCTORS IN FRONT OF THE MINISTRY

 

Doctors at Al-Muwasat Hospital in Damascus, joined by colleagues from other hospitals, protested a decision by the transitional government’s Ministry of Health to reduce salaries.

 

Expressing frustration and anger, the doctors said the new pay levels are incompatible with living costs and fail to reflect the responsibilities carried by healthcare staff. They called on authorities to reconsider the decision and improve conditions for medical workers, warning of ongoing consequences if living standards continue to deteriorate.

 

Healthcare personnel at Tal Al-Watani Hospital in the Damascus countryside also halted the acceptance of non-emergency cases on Tuesday morning in protest against the wage reductions.