Czech Republic and Syria sign social insurance agreement

Czech Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Petr Šimerka and his Syrian counterpart, Diala El-Haj Aref, singed a social security agreement between the two countries in Prague on Monday. The deal will grant pensions to Czech nationals working in Syria and to Syrian citizens working in the Czech Republic. The agreement provides for equal treatment for nationals of both countries, adding up insurance periods, pension payments in the other country and prevents double taxation. The Czech-Syrian treaty is the first such agreement the Czech Republic has with an Arab country, the ministry said, noting it will affect some 350 persons in each country.