Syria: Sanctions Lifted, Challenges Remain
When the United Kingdom recently announced the removal of 12 Syrian entities from its sanctions list, many Syrians felt a glimmer of hope. This measure, which followed the earlier easing of sanctions against 24 entities in vital sectors such as transportation, energy, and financial services, heralded a new beginning. However, the reality remains challenging for people seeking remote work opportunities.
The new Syrian government led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group is seeking to persuade Western capitals that international sanctions should be lifted. In an interview, Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani said: "We inherited many problems from the Assad regime, but removing economic sanctions is fundamental to Syria's stability."
In a significant milestone for the Syrian economy, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has officially announced the lifting of economic sanctions against Syria. This landmark decision, the result of multilateral negotiations involving mediators from Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, represents Washington’s first substantial acknowledgement of the political transformation that has taken place in the country since the fall of the Assad regime. The lifting of OFAC sanctions, which were considered among the most restrictive in the international financial system, allows Syrian banks to resume transactions with global financial institutions and paves the way for foreign investment in critical sectors such as energy, healthcare and infrastructure. “This is a crucial step towards Syria’s reintegration into the global economy,” said a US Treasury Department spokesperson.
To better understand the current scenario and how the search for remote work is progressing, I interviewed two people: Mohammed Kamal, a Syrian living in the border region with Turkey, and Ali Alkhateeb, a frontend web engineer living in Syria.
"The biggest problem is that we don't have PayPal or Payoneer, they're all banned," explains Mohammed. "We find jobs, but we can't receive payments through conventional means."
Even with the easing of sanctions on the Central Bank of Syria, international banks resist processing Syrian transactions. Any account identified as originating from Syria runs the risk of being frozen without prior notice. When alternatives are found, intermediaries frequently charge exorbitant fees, reaching up to 50% of the transferred amount, to circumvent financial restrictions.
For Syrians, access to remote work represents not just a convenience but a vital necessity. Years of conflict have destroyed offices, commercial buildings, and transportation infrastructure, making in-person work often impossible. In some areas, daily commuting still presents significant security risks. Remote work would also be a crucial solution for including vulnerable groups, such as those who acquired physical disabilities during the conflict.
The situation is aggravated by inconsistency in international sanctions policies. Even when sanctions are officially eased, many companies and financial institutions continue to avoid any transaction with Syria for fear of inadvertently violating some restriction still in effect. The lack of coordination between British and American sanctions policies creates confusion about what is permitted.
This regulatory uncertainty has profound social consequences. Many Syrians are forced to leave their families to seek work in other countries, as they cannot work remotely from home. Skilled professionals emigrate permanently, depriving Syria of its educated workforce needed for reconstruction. Without access to global labor markets, many families fall into extreme poverty or depend on humanitarian aid, fueling a cycle of instability that undermines peace efforts.
Ali Alkhateeb shares similar challenges. Even while developing a personal project, he continues to seek remote work opportunities, explaining that "One of the biggest obstacles I face is the common requirement to reside in the country where the position was advertised, even for fully remote jobs."
He explains that as an engineer, it is even more difficult, as he lacks access to specific platforms in the field to develop his work, such as GitHub and GitLab.
Ali also highlights a particularly concerning issue: wage discrimination. "Syrians often receive job offers with much lower salaries, simply because they are Syrian," he reveals, pointing to a vicious cycle of professional devaluation based on nationality.
Prejudice manifests in even more direct ways, as demonstrated by a personal experience shared by Ali: "I applied for na online volunteer position at an NGO. I made it clear in my resume and throughout the selection process that I am Syrian. After the interview, I was told I would receive feedback via email, but I never heard back." Experiences like this lead many Syrian professionals to omit their nationality during selection processes, in a desperate attempt to at least get a fair chance of evaluation. There is a "chilling" effect where global companies avoid hiring Syrians for fear of possible legal complications, even when technically allowed.
Basic infrastructure challenges remain significant obstacles to remote work. "We used to live without electricity and internet for many years," shares Mohammed. "Now it's better for those living on the border with Turkey, but it's getting worse because people are returning to their homes, so there isn't as much focus on this area of northwestern Syria anymore." This instability in the supply of power and internet creates almost insurmountable barriers for those who depend on constant connections for video conferences, file uploads, or strict deadlines.
The digital exclusion of Syrians is multifaceted and is something mentioned by both interviewees. Syrian freelancers are automatically rejected by platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, which would be of great help in the search for remote work. Syrian IP addresses are frequently flagged as "high risk" and blocked by automated systems.
Some Syrians, however, have found creative solutions to circumvent these limitations. "We did some small projects using cryptocurrency transfers," reveals Mohammed, highlighting how decentralized digital alternatives are becoming a vital resource. This type of adaptation demonstrates the resilience and determination of the Syrian people, but represents only partial solutions to a systemic problem.
Mohammed's situation reflects that of many Syrians: "My situation is the same as everyone else's, but I live on the border where Turkey is helping us with electricity and internet, although we have to pay. I'm trying and looking... some people here are tired of searching and trying. I still have hope, while others have lost it."
Mohammed sees the lifting of sanctions as a pivotal moment for his country: “This is a historic turning point for us. International recognition and the lifting of sanctions represent an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. For the first time in years, I see a real path to rebuilding our lives and our country. Every Syrian who is able to work remotely is a small victory against the isolation that has been imposed on us for so long.”
For Syrians, each remote work opportunity is not just a job – it's a chance to stay in their country, support their families, and contribute to reconstruction. Despite the partial easing of sanctions, the path to true remote work opportunities remains full of practical obstacles that require coordinated and compassionate solutions. As Mohammed reports: "So far, reconstruction has not yet begun. Syria needs the cooperation and assistance of all countries to start reconstruction. More than half of Syria is destroyed, including my home."
This article is based on interviews with Mohammed Kamal, a Syrian citizen living in the border region with Turkey, and Ali Alkhateeb, a frontend engineer residing in Syria, and aims to inform decision-makers about how they can positively contribute to this situation.