Article 16
The law shall determine the maximum level of agricultural ownership and agricultural investment to ensure the protection of the farmer and the agricultural laborer from exploitation and to ensure increased production.
Article 33
- Freedom shall be a sacred right and the state shall guarantee the personal freedom of citizens and preserve their dignity and security;
Article 40
- Work shall be a right and a duty for every citizen, and the state shallendeavorto provide for all citizens, and the law shall organize work, its conditions and the workers’ rights;
- Each worker shall have a fair wage according to the quality and output of the work; this wage shall be no less than the minimum wage that ensures the requirements of living and changes in living conditions;
- The state shall guarantee social and health security of workers.
Article 46
- Compulsory military service shall be a sacred duty and is regulated by a law;
- Defending the territorial integrity of the homeland and maintaining the secrets of state shall be a duty of every citizen.
CONSTITUTION OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC 2012 (PDF)
Note: Article 511 punishes anyone who keeps a person by force in a place of debauchery or who coerces such person to engage in prostitution.
LEGISLATIVE DECREE 148/1949 CRIMINAL CODE (arabic) (PDF)
Article 82
Workers may not be forced to purchase food or commodities from specific shops or from the goods and services produced by the employer.
Article 83
Employers may not deduct more than 20% from workers’ wages for the repayment of any loans granted during employment, nor charge any interest on such loans.
Article 93
Obligations of employers:
a- Secure working circumstances, conditions, safeguards and environment as prescribed under the present Law, the executive regulations thereof and the applicable collective labour agreements.
Article 95
a- Rights of workers:
1- Right to periodic wage increment, once every other year, at the rate prescribed under the internal regulations or the employment contract.
2- Right to equal opportunity, equal treatment and non-discrimination.
3- Right to human dignity.
4- Right to safe and secure working conditions.
5- Right to join trade unions and handicrafts associations.
Article 113
a- It shall be unlawful to employ male and female juveniles before they complete elementary schooling or before they reach the age of fifteen, whichever is older.
b- The Minister shall issue regulations, terms, conditions and circumstances of juvenile employment, and prohibited activities, occupations and trades at different ages.
Article 261
a- Every employer who violates articles 76, 78, 81, 82, 91, 101, 108, 109, 155, 156, 173, 174, and 175 shall be liable to a fine ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 SYP. In addition to the fine, the court shall compel the employer who violates articles 155, 156, 173, 174 and 175 to give the worker his accrued leave.
Article 263
b- Every employer who violates articles 94 and 95/(a) shall be liable to a fine ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 SYP. The court shall order the employer to honour the obligations set forth under those articles.
Article 264
Every employer who violates articles 113, 114, 115, 116 and 117 shall be liable to a fine ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 SYP.
LAW NO 17/2010 LABOUR LAW (PDF)
Note: Amends the Criminal Code contained in Legislative Decree 148/1949 by inserting two new provisions.
Punishes any individual who recruits a child less than 18 years of age for the purposes of involving them in combat or other related activities.
Note: provides a legal foundation for prosecuting trafficking offenses and protecting victims, but it does not include a clear definition of human trafficking. This decree prescribes a minimum punishment of seven years’ imprisonment, a penalty that is sufficiently stringent, though not commensurate with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape.
Article 1
Anyone who incites, employs, entices or lures a male or female person with intent to commit debauchery or prostitution shall be punished with imprisonment for a period of not less than one year and not more than three years and a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 Syrian pounds. If the victim of the offence is under 21 years of age, the punishment is increased toimprisonment for a period of not less than one year and not more than five years and a fine of not less than 1,000 and not more than 5,000 Syrian pounds.
Article 2
Any person who uses deception, threat or force in order to entice persons with intent to commit prostitution is also punished.
Article 6
Note: anyone who employs a child of compulsory education age shall be punished with imprisonment and a fine. Furthermore, it provides that the penalty shall be increased if the offence is repeated and that premises in which children of either sex are employed shall be closed down.
Article 5
Marriage is contracted by way of an offer made by one of the two contracting parties and the acceptance of the other party. Marriage is therefore a contract between a man and a woman that gives rise to rights and obligations on the part of each towards the other. It may be entered into only with the acceptance of both parties and before a competent officer who has the right to conduct the marriage. It is recorded in an official marriage register and a copy of the marriage contract is subsequently transmitted to the Department of Civil Status for registration.
