Between municipal fees and the strike of transport offices in Al-Hasakah… the work of families and patients is being harmed

Trips at the Al-Hasakah garage stopped last Monday, after the Al-Hasakah Municipality, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration, decided to close land transportation companies, after their owners refused to pay the annual fees for office wages, which increased in value from one and a half million Syrian pounds, to ten million Syrian pounds.

This decision has a negative impact on the travel of passengers and patients to Damascus, according to what was stated by travelers who flocked to the closed transportation offices during the past Monday and Tuesday.

Travelers are also afraid that wages will increase several times after the increase in office rents, which was also indicated by the director of the “Parwan” land transport company office in Al-Hasakah.

The company’s director, Imran Hussein, told Aso News Network, “The municipality notified them four months ago about raising the fees, but no one paid because of the harm that will befall the company on the one hand due to the financial burdens, and to the travelers on the other hand as a result of raising transportation fees.”

Hussein added: “Two days ago, the municipality closed all offices with red wax, after we refused to pay this amount.” Pointing out that this decision was “exceptionally imposed” on the offices of transport companies in AL-Hasakah, as he put it.

After flights stopped for two consecutive days, the municipality reopened the offices, after holding a meeting with the Transport Union and transport companies to discuss the problem and the necessity of continuing the transportation, according to what Noman Ibrahim, director of the Union of Land Transport Companies in North and East Syria, told our network.

Ibrahim said: “Yesterday we opened all offices with the approval of the municipality after a deadline of Saturday.” He added, “We have given all companies permission to pay the fees in full or in installments.”

While the director of the Transport Union indicated that the municipality notified them that it would not back down from the decision to increase office rents, and whoever did not pay would be forced to vacate them and give them to other tenants.”

There are 15 land transport companies operating within Al-Hasakah Garage between Al-Hasakah and Damascus, and the travel fares range between 83,000 Syrian pounds for regular buses and 95,000 Syrian pounds for business buses, and are determined by the Transport Directorate, according to its official in the Al-Hasakah Municipality.

Yazan Ahmed, Director of the Transportation Division in the People’s Municipality in aL-Hasakah, said, “15 land transportation companies operate under lease contracts within shops belonging to the municipality within Tal Hajar garage.”

He added, “The value of rents for shops outside the garage is mostly $100, but we are asking for half,” noting that the municipality provides its services to the people from revenues from shop rents and other things.

The director of the transportation office in Al-Hasakah confirmed that the decision is effective from the date of its issuance, and that the municipality will be forced to close the offices whose fees have not been paid within the deadline specified by them.

Pointing out that the current offices were opened after the companies agreed to pay the annual salary in the coming days.