Setting Up a Company

Types of Companies and Capital (Max/Min)	Number of Partners/Shareholders and Liability
Private Limited Company No minimum capital.	Minimum 2. Liability is limited to the amount contributed.
Public Limited Company. SYP 30,000	No minimum. Liability is limited to the amount contributed.
Limited Partnership. No minimum capital.	No minimum. Liability is limited for some partners and unlimited for others.
Joint stock limited partnership. No minimum capital.	No minimum. Liability is limited for some partners and unlimited for others.
General Partnership. No minimum capital.	Minimum 2. Partners' liability is indefinite and joint.

The Competent Organization: Foreign companies have to be registered with the Ministry of Economy and Trade.

Source: Doing Business.

Business Setup Procedures: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Syria.
Ministry of Economy, Register a company.

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration: 42 hours.
Retirement Age: 60 in the civil service.
Working Contracts: The law is very specific and precise regarding the contracts of employment. The sources of labor legislation in the Syrian Arab Republic are law n°91 of April 5, 1959 and legislative decree n°49 of July 3, 1962. The contract must be drawn up in Arabic with a duplicate, with a copy for each party (art. 43, LC). The trial period is stated in the contract, but it cannot exceed 3 months (art. 44, LC). A contract of employment can be established for a short term period or for an unspecified period of time. If it is agreed for a short term period and both parties continue to comply with it after the expiration date, it must be renewed for an indefinite period of time (art. 71, LC).

Minimum Wage: SYP 5,880 (USD118) for the public and private sector.
Average Wage: Average monthly gross earnings is between SYP 15,000 and 20,000 (USD 370 - 500 ).
Social contributions: Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 14% of salary.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 7% of income.

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners: The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is the organization which represents workers in Syria. Since 1968, a decree has obliged all the country's trade unions to belong to the GFTU. This organization is strictly controlled by the ruling Baath party. It coordinates most aspects of union activity and determines which sectors or activities may create a union or a federation. As a consequence, union action is minimal and strikes are very rare.
Unionization Rate: The unionization rate in Syria is 100 %. Belonging to a trade union is mandatory in order to be employed.
Labor Regulation Bodies: Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.

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