logo
Jordan unveils 9-year social protection strategy with focus on economic empowerment

Jordan unveils 9-year social protection strategy with focus on economic empowerment

Jordan Times09-02-2025
Minister of Social Development and Wafa Bani Mustafa on Sunday announces that the updated National Social Protection Strategy for the coming nine years will be implemented in the second quarter of this year (Petra photo)
AMMAN — Minister of Social Development and Wafa Bani Mustafa on Sunday announced that the updated National Social Protection Strategy for the coming nine years will be implemented in the second quarter of this year.
The minister's remarks were made during a meeting with the local press to inform media people about the updated National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) (2025-2033).
The NSPS (2025-2033), under the directives and vision of His Majesty King Abdullah, will contain three main pillars including dignity, empowerment and opportunity, according to the minister.
'Our ultimate goal is to ensure the best means of social protection for our citizens which is to ensure that they got a job instead of only depending on social support and funding,' the minister told reporters.
The NSPS (2025-2033) is a continuation of the National Social Protection Strategy (2019-2025), which aimed to develop the social protection sector, Minister Bani Mustafa said.
'We meet today to get the feedback of the media and to notify the public that the strategy will be adopted in the second quarter of this year,' Bani Mustafa, who is also the chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, told reporters.
She added that a specialised team was allocated to follow up on comments by the media and the public alike regarding the updated strategy.
'We are resorting to the use of social media and QR codes to encourage the public to access the NSPS (2025-2033) document online and send their comments and feedback,' Bani Mustafa explained.
Furthermore, the minister added that the ministry will conduct meetings with local organisations, experts, non-governmental organisations and activists in various governorates to hear their feedback and comments.
Minister of Government Communication Mohammed Momani also addressed reporters during the one-day event stating that 'the media has an important role in raising people's awareness about the NSPS (2025-2033).
'The media is our partner in spreading awareness and also giving their feedback so that we will work together to ensure that social protection covers the entire Kingdom,' Momani told reporters.
Momani added that His Majesty King Abdullah, Her Majesty Queen Rania, HRH Prince Hussein and the government are committed to supporting the strategy and ensuring that 'our citizens are empowered with full dignity and social care'.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Social Security Reform in Jordan: What Direction Do We Want? - Jordan News
Social Security Reform in Jordan: What Direction Do We Want? - Jordan News

Jordan News

time05-08-2025

  • Jordan News

Social Security Reform in Jordan: What Direction Do We Want? - Jordan News

From time to time, the Jordanian government, through various levels issues statements and leaks suggesting that there are challenges threatening the sustainability of the social security system, often hinting at the need to amend the governing law. These positions are frequently supported by recommendations from the International Monetary Fund and/or the World Bank. اضافة اعلان However, Jordan's recent experience has shown that what is offered under the label of 'reform' often involves reducing social entitlements rather than expanding protection or enhancing coverage. A few years ago, we witnessed a government attempt to amend more than one-third of the articles in the Social Security Law, most of which aimed at reducing protections, allowing the government to withhold part of its obligations toward military personnel, and conditioning those payments on economic growth rates exceeding 5%. Although public and parliamentary pressure prevented some of these amendments from being passed, the changes that were adopted effectively weakened the comprehensiveness and efficiency of the system. Today, with renewed calls for reforming the social security system, we must ask the fundamental question: What kind of reform do we want? Is the goal to strengthen the social protection system or simply to reduce costs at the expense of working people? The social security system is not merely a technical insurance scheme; it is one of the key pillars of social, political, and economic stability in any country. In Jordan, social security has been one of the state's most important achievements over the past decades, as it provides protection against old age, illness, disability, unemployment, and other social risks. It also contributes to poverty reduction and narrowing the social gap. Moreover, enhancing social security is no longer optional, it is a national necessity for achieving the goals outlined in the Economic Modernization Vision and the National Social Protection Strategy. Both documents identify social protection as a core pillar of economic reform. It is impossible to talk about a stable, attractive investment environment or increased productivity without a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable social security system. Likewise, any serious economic reform plan cannot succeed without a strong social safety net that protects vulnerable groups from the impacts of economic transformation and mitigates poverty and unemployment. Social security is not a burden on the economy, it is a prerequisite for its success and sustainability. If there is a genuine need to reform the Social Security Law, the starting point should be expanding coverage, not limiting it. Currently, nearly half of Jordan's labor force is not covered by social security, most of them working in the informal sector or as self-employed individuals. What we need are flexible and simplified contribution mechanisms that respond to the diversity of modern work arrangements, supported by incentivizing government policies, not exclusionary measures that increase vulnerability. The policy of expanding early retirement, especially forced retirement in the public sector, has become a burden on the system and threatens its sustainability. These policies must be halted. Exempting youth from some types of insurance coverage is a serious mistake that must be corrected, as it undermines the principle of equality and exposes future generations to weak retirement protection. Similarly, the decision to link the government's contributions for military personnel to economic growth rates must be reversed. Real reform must include all workers without discrimination and provide employment incentives that do not compromise their fundamental rights. Reforming the social security system in Jordan is not a routine technical measure, it is a political, economic, and social decision that affects the future of millions of Jordanians. Therefore, any amendments to this law must be based on principles of justice, inclusiveness, and sustainability, not on austerity approaches that threaten the structure of social protection and reduce the gains of working people. We must understand that social security is a long-term investment in societal stability, not a cost that should be minimized.

Minister of Social Development Discusses Areas of Cooperation with UNICEF Representative - Jordan News
Minister of Social Development Discusses Areas of Cooperation with UNICEF Representative - Jordan News

Jordan News

time03-08-2025

  • Jordan News

Minister of Social Development Discusses Areas of Cooperation with UNICEF Representative - Jordan News

Minister of Social Development Discusses Areas of Cooperation with UNICEF Representative Minister of Social Development and Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, met on Sunday with UNICEF Representative in Jordan, Philippe Duamelle, to explore avenues of collaboration within the framework of the National Social Protection Strategy (2025–2033) and its first executive plan (2025–2028). اضافة اعلان Bani Mustafa highlighted the importance of partnership with UNICEF in supporting social protection programs at both the policy and programmatic levels, empowering the most vulnerable groups, and strengthening and expanding the scope of cooperation. She reviewed the joint programs implemented in partnership with UNICEF, especially the update of the National Social Protection Strategy, which involved technical support, extensive national consultations across governorates and sectors, and the preparation of the strategy document aligned with modernization visions, culminating in its official launch. She also noted the communication strategy, which included a wide awareness campaign rolled out alongside the launch. The minister emphasized the ongoing collaboration in implementing the executive plan, establishing a monitoring and evaluation framework, and reinforcing communication mechanisms within the protection sector. She called for intensifying awareness efforts on social protection programs across the Kingdom. She also stressed the need to continue the partnership with UNICEF through initiatives such as: Building media capacities in social protection. Developing a mechanism to classify associations and enhancing the role of the volunteer and civil society sector. Institutionalizing the 'Makani' Project in the Ministry's community development centers. Professionalizing social work. Enhancing alternative care services, all of which are key priorities within the first executive plan (2025–2028). For his part, UNICEF Representative Philippe Duamelle praised the institutional cooperation in implementing the updated National Social Protection Strategy and the longstanding partnership in developing protection and care policies, as well as executing joint social programs that contribute to improving social services and supporting target groups. (Petra)

Jordan, UNICEF discuss partnership on social protection strategy
Jordan, UNICEF discuss partnership on social protection strategy

Ammon

time03-08-2025

  • Ammon

Jordan, UNICEF discuss partnership on social protection strategy

Ammon News - Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa met with UNICEF Representative in Jordan Philippe Duamelle to discuss cooperation in implementing the 2025–2033 National Social Protection Strategy and its first action plan (2025–2028). Bani Mustafa highlighted the importance of UNICEF's role in supporting social protection programs, policy development, and empowering vulnerable groups. She emphasized the shared efforts in updating the national strategy, including technical support, extensive consultations, and a national awareness campaign. She also stressed the need to continue working on the strategy's implementation plan, monitoring and evaluation, and expanding communication efforts across the kingdom. The minister pointed to future cooperation in areas like media capacity-building, classifying associations, strengthening civil society and volunteer sectors, institutionalizing the Makani program, professionalizing social work, and enhancing alternative care services.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store