Jordan deports over 2,000 undocumented workers in ongoing inspection campaign

Jordan Times

13-03-2025

The Ministry of Labour arrests 2,419 non-Jordanian workers for violating labour laws and regulations in January and February (File photo)
AMMAN — The Ministry of Labour has arrested 2,419 non-Jordanian workers for violating labour laws and regulations in January and February this year, as part of a joint inspection campaign conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Public Security Directorate (PSD).
In a statement on Wednesday, Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Zyoud announced that more than 2,000 of the detained workers have already been deported, including 104 domestic workers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
He added that a number of the remaining workers are still undergoing deportation proceedings, while others have had their fines paid by employers to cancel their deportation and legalise their status under labour laws.
Zyoud stressed that the campaign is ongoing and follows regulatory measures introduced by the minister of labour in the last two months of 2024, noting that these measures aim at allowing non-Jordanian workers to move between sectors, helping companies to take advantage of the existing labour force in the Kingdom.
He said that the ministry had urged employers in late 2024 to legalise the status of undocumented foreign workers in their employment to avoid penalties.
Under the Labour Law, companies found to be employing undocumented workers face fines of at least JD800 per worker.
Zyoud noted that the ministry's efforts aim at regulating the labour market and ensuring that non-Jordanian workers are only employed in authorised occupations.
"Jordan values its foreign workforce and upholds equal labour rights for all workers, regardless of nationality. However, those wishing to work in the Kingdom must comply with labour laws," the spokesperson said.
Regarding the domestic workers caught up in the inspection campaign, Zyoud revealed that many had been reported to the PSD as runaways before being found working for new employers, while others had been illegally employed in jobs unrelated to domestic work.
He urged employers to refrain from hiring undocumented workers, whether for domestic work or other jobs, to avoid legal consequences.
Zyoud added that employers still have the opportunity to rectify the status of undocumented workers by paying all required work permit fees and fines before they are arrested, warning that the ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the PSD, will continue to enforce labour laws through its inspection campaign.
As the government intensifies its crackdown on labour violations, a recent Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights report highlighted persistent challenges for women in Jordan's labour market. In 2024, Tamkeen recorded 202 complaints from female workers, particularly in sectors such as domestic work, beauty salons and manufacturing.
The report revealed that 59 per cent of these complaints involved domestic workers, many of whom faced delayed wages, lack of social security coverage, and excessive working hours.
Additionally, female workers often endure unsafe working conditions, including withheld passports, unpaid overtime, and cases of harassment or abuse.