Under pretext of “lack of vacancies” | University graduates in Al-Raqqah without jobs
With the beginning of the fifth year of the liberation of Al-Raqqah city from ISIS, programs of reconstruction and projects of development and rehabilitation have been launched. Meanwhile, international and local organisations started programs concerning with the medical sector, as well as dismantling landmines, constructing dispensaries, educational institutions and bridges, rehabilitating infrastructure and services and distributing food baskets. These projects and programs have secured a number of job opportunities exceeding the number of employees in official institutions in Al-Raqqah. On the other hand, salaries given by these organisations are estimated to be 500 to 1,200 USD, where residents see that working for any of these organisations for such high salaries is a “golden chance.” Accordingly, corruption among these organisations and officials representing them have become prevalent.
Speaking to SOHR, a 30-year-old man known as Ibrahim Hasan, a graduate of the faculty of Commercial and Economy of Aleppo University said, “I have registered my name in the labour office of Al-Raqqah Civil Council since 2020. In the past two years, I was nominated for three positions in different international organisations in Al-Raqqah and passed oral exams and interviews on ‘skype’ with coordinators with these organisations. However, I was informed that ‘there were no vacant positions and that they would communicate with me as soon as there are vacancies.’ Employment in any organisations ignores oral exams, interviews and even university degrees, but you can win a job only through patronage or foregoing the monthly salary for two months for the favour of one of the affiliates of managers of these organisations, mostly their relatives who work as guards or drivers for any of these organisations.”
According to SOHR sources, Al-Raqqah city has experienced considerable public anger towards the organisations operating in the city due to corruption, mistreatment and haughtiness by officials of these organisations.
On the other hand, a 25-yar-old girl from Al-Raqqah nicknamed Eman Salem, a graduate of the faculty of Arts, Arabic section, has told SOHR, “I have followed web pages of job advertisement in organisations operating in the city for two years. I have sent my CV several times. I have not get any chances or called for interviews, although my academic qualification is required for several positions. The matter is complicated, an I was surprised when I know that some young women with only high-school degrees have been appointed in awareness-raising and literacy sections, as well as activities of psychological support and teaching languages. Patronage has the upper hand in these organisations.”
A 32-year-old man known as Khalil Issa told SOHR, “I worked for an organisation from 2017 to 2021. I was the founder of this organisation and I worked voluntarily for no salary for over eight months. Support provided to the organisation has been suspended and I have become workless. I sent my CV to several organisations, but no one communicated with me for even an interview. Two days ago, an organisation announced about a job opportunity, so I sent my CV. In order to make sure that they would admit me, I went with one of my acquaintance, who heads a media institution in the city, to the headquarters of the organisation where we were informed that all required positions have been already reserved earlier.”
SOHR activists have confirmed that employment in organisations operating in Al-Raqqah city depends on blackmailing and patronage. Some organisations have been called after the names of specific tribes and families, as an evidence of domination of these tribes and families on organisations.
It is worth noting that the number of people in Al-Raqqah city and countryside has reached 800,000, while the number of organisations operating in Al-Raqqah approximates 128. Moreover, over two thirds of the population live below the poverty line, amid lack of inspection and monitoring of these organisations.