Latest news with #Himaya
Jordan Times
21-04-2025
- Jordan Times
Unpaid wages top labour complaints in Q1 of 2025 — ministry
The Ministry of Labour says that unpaid wages continue to top the list of labour complaints in the Kingdom, reflecting persistent violations of workers' rights across multiple sectors (Petra photo) AMMAN — Unpaid wages continue to top the list of labour complaints in the Kingdom, reflecting persistent violations of workers' rights across multiple sectors, according to the Ministry of Labour. In its latest inspection report, the ministry revealed that 935 complaints related to unpaid wages were filed during the first quarter of 2025 through its "Himaya" platform, accounting for 37 per cent of all labour grievances received during that period. Following investigations, the ministry's Inspection Directorate issued 222 official violations to employers, according to a statement shared with The Jordan Times. The report also recorded 152 complaints regarding the termination of open-ended contracts, oral agreements, or cases where no formal employment contract was in place. Additionally, 128 workers filed complaints after being suspended without justification, while 97 others raised concerns over the termination of fixed-term contracts. Further issues cited by workers included salary deductions, being forced to take unpaid leave, and the withholding of employment certificates. A total of 140 individuals reported being denied experience letters, while 134 others said they faced unjust legal actions initiated by their employers. In terms of occupational safety, 26 complaints were filed related to inadequate health and safety measures, while four targeted recruitment agencies. One complaint involved a breach of intellectual property rights, and 12 others cited employers' failure to provide the legally mandated one-month notice prior to termination. During the same period, labour inspectors carried out 7,818 field visits, including five focused on specific economic sectors. These inspections led to the issuance of 1,757 warnings and the documentation of 2,386 labour law violations. Across industries, workers expressed ongoing vulnerability. Lina Tayseer, a garment factory worker in Sahab, said her employer routinely delays salary payments and pressures employees into signing documents falsely confirming full payment. 'There are months when we receive our salaries late. If anyone complains, they risk losing their job,' Tayseer told The Jordan Times. In the hospitality sector, similar concerns persist. Ahmad Diab, a receptionist in Aqaba, said employees are often forced to work up to 14 hours a day without appropriate overtime compensation. 'Most of us remain silent because we're afraid we won't find another job,' he said. From the employer's perspective, some cite regulatory and economic pressures as contributing factors. Anas Ajarma, who owns a restaurant in Amman, acknowledged gaps in implementation but said the lack of support for small businesses complicates compliance with labour standards. 'Balancing labour obligations with high operational costs and limited assistance is extremely difficult,' Ajarma said. Labour rights organisations, including Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights, have long warned about systemic issues affecting workers. In a comment to The Jordan Times, the organisation said: 'Ongoing violations, particularly concerning fair wages and working hours, indicate the urgent need for stronger legal protections and more robust oversight to safeguard workers' basic rights.'
Jordan News
24-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Social Security: 187,000 Subscribers at the Minimum Wage Level - Jordan News
The number of active subscribers in social security currently earning the minimum wage of 290 Jordanian dinars stands at approximately 187,550 subscribers. اضافة اعلان The Social Security Corporation stated to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Monday that the number of Jordanians earning the minimum wage reached 120,000 subscribers, while the number of non-Jordanian subscribers was 67,550, working in establishments within the kingdom. These workers, earning the minimum wage, represent 26% of the total number of active subscribers, which amounts to around 1.574 million subscribers. It is worth noting that the tripartite committee for labor affairs, comprising the government, employers, and workers, unanimously decided to raise the minimum wage for private sector workers from 260 to 290 dinars, effective from January 1, 2025, until December 31, 2027. Additionally, the number of labor complaints received through the "Himaya" platform regarding some private sector establishments' failure to comply with the minimum wage requirements has reached 106 labor complaints since the beginning of 2025, according to the Ministry of Labor.
Jordan News
17-03-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Labor Ministry: 106 Complaints of Not Paying Minimum Wage in 2025 - Jordan News
The media spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Mohammed Al-Zayoud, stated that the number of labor complaints submitted to the "Himaya" platform regarding some private sector establishments' failure to comply with paying the minimum wage has reached only 106 complaints since the beginning of 2025. اضافة اعلان He confirmed that the Ministry places great importance on monitoring compliance with the minimum wage, whether through inspection visits or via complaints filed by workers in the private sector through the electronic platform "Himaya." He called on workers, both male and female, in the private sector whose employers are not adhering to the minimum wage to file a labor complaint on the "Himaya" platform. He explained that the platform offers the option to keep the complaint confidential and allows the worker to categorize the complaint as related to non-compliance with the minimum wage, rather than a general wage dispute. Al-Zayoud clarified that Article 46 of the Labor Law states that the employer must pay the worker's wages and overtime pay within no more than seven days from the due date. He also noted that the decision by the Tripartite Labor Affairs Committee regarding raising the minimum wage came into effect at the beginning of 2025, setting it at 290 dinars per month, regardless of how workers are paid. Al-Zayoud explained that Article 53 of the Labor Law imposes penalties on establishments that fail to comply with the minimum wage. These penalties include a fine ranging from 500 dinars to 1,000 dinars for each case where the employer pays less than the minimum wage, in addition to requiring the employer to pay the wage difference. The penalty is doubled in case of repeated violations.
Jordan News
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Labor Ministry: One of Our Key Priorities is Enhancing Women's Protection in the Labor Market - Jordan News
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Mohammad Al-Zyoud, confirmed that one of the ministry's top priorities is to enhance the protection of women in the labor market and increase their economic participation. اضافة اعلان He added that, given the Ministry's significant focus on women, it established an independent directorate in 2006 under the name of the Directorate of Women's Labor and Gender Equality. Al-Zyoud explained that the Ministry has always sought to improve the labor regulations to strengthen the protection of women in the labor market, enabling them to continue in the workforce without withdrawing from it. He clarified that the Ministry has contributed to improving the work environment and enhancing women's protection in the labor market to increase their economic participation through several amendments made to the Labor Law in recent years, in addition to the development of certain regulations and amendments issued under it. He pointed out that one of the major amendments to the Labor Law was the modification of Article (29), which added a clear definition of sexual harassment. This article also granted workers the right to leave work without notifying the employer, provided that they inform the Ministry of Labor within two weeks of leaving the job, while retaining their legal rights and compensation for any harm caused if subjected to assault, degradation, or any form of sexual harassment or assault as stipulated by current legislation. Additionally, one of the amendments to the Labor Law was the modification of Article (69), which aimed to remove restrictions on women's employment that previously defined industries and jobs in which women were prohibited from working. To provide more protection for women in the workforce, gender-based discrimination was prohibited among workers, which could undermine the principle of equal opportunity. The Ministry also issued guidelines to protect pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with disabilities, and those working night shifts under this article. He added that the Ministry issued guidelines for alternative institutional nurseries to ensure the care of children of working women and reduce their withdrawal from the workforce due to childcare responsibilities. Furthermore, to enhance the legislative framework supporting increased female participation in the labor market, a flexible work system was introduced to further increase women's economic participation. Al-Zyoud affirmed that, to ensure a safe, healthy, and sound work environment, the Ministry worked on updating the occupational health and safety system, issuing new regulations and instructions for this purpose. He also highlighted the establishment of the "Himaya" platform, an electronic platform for receiving labor complaints from workers in the private sector. Complainants can choose whether their complaint is confidential or public. He pointed out that the Ministry aims to contribute to increasing women's participation in the labor market through the National Employment Program, where 35% of the targets of the program are women with various educational qualifications from all governorates. Additionally, the Ministry has the "Production Branches Initiative," which operates 30 branches across the provinces, contributing to the employment of women, with approximately 82% of workers in these branches being women. Regarding the new amendments to the Labor Law still under review by the Parliament, maternity leave has been extended from 70 to 90 days, and the termination of a pregnant woman's employment is now prohibited throughout her pregnancy, rather than only starting from the sixth month. On the awareness campaign front, the Ministry has implemented several awareness campaigns aimed at educating female workers in the private sector about their labor rights, including those working in the private education sector. These campaigns also raise awareness about occupational safety and health regulations. The Ministry is also a partner in the Jordanian Committee for Wage Fairness to help educate women about their labor rights through the launch of three phases of the national campaign to raise awareness about the rights of workers in the private sector (Wa'i/Wa'iya).
Jordan Times
26-02-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Study on employment of persons with disabilities in textile industry launched
Executive Director of the Masarat Foundation Talal Ghneimat says that integrating persons with disabilities into the Jordanian labour market is not just a legal obligation but a national, social and ethical responsibility (JT file) AMMAN — The Jordanian Masarat Foundation for Development and Innovation launched a study on Wednesday titled "Industry as a Means of Inclusion — Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Textile and Garment Factories." Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar emphasised the importance of adopting a scientific approach in diagnosing sectorial issues, noting that any study must be based on accurate scientific principles. He expressed the ministry's openness to research that can help address challenges within various sectors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Bakkar highlighted that the ministry established the "Better Work" department in 2020 in partnership with the International Labour Organisation to create safer working environments in the textile and garment sector, improve working conditions, and enhance sectorial competitiveness. He also pointed out that the ministry provides a clear mechanism for submitting labour complaints through its Himaya (protection) platform, offering detailed reports and resolution processes for labour-related grievances. Executive Director of the Masarat Foundation Talal Ghneimat said that integrating persons with disabilities into the Jordanian labour market is not just a legal obligation but a national, social and ethical responsibility. He noted that true sustainable development cannot occur without ensuring equal participation for all groups, including those with disabilities. Ghneimat also stressed the growing priority of integrating persons with disabilities into the workforce at the local and international levels. He highlighted that, while progress has been made in recent years, many individuals with disabilities still face significant challenges in securing decent employment opportunities. The study, conducted by Masarat Foundation, focused on the employment of persons with disabilities in the national textile sector, examining the challenges they face and assessing the availability of suitable workplace accommodations. Ghneimat called on businesses to establish inclusive work environments, adhere to laws protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, and raise public awareness about the contributions of people with disabilities to the national economy. The study's recommendations included the development of vocational training programmes tailored to persons with disabilities, equipping them with the skills required by the labour market. It also emphasised the importance of ensuring their right to participate fully in society and adapting workplaces to meet their needs, including implementing health and safety measures. The study recommended organising workshops to raise awareness of the rights of workers with disabilities among employees and managers, particularly regarding the implementation of necessary accommodations. The study proposed improvements to the physical infrastructure of textile and garment factories, including the installation of accessible pathways and ramps for individuals with mobility impairments, as well as making adjustments to restrooms and other facilities to accommodate workers with disabilities. Page 2
