Latest news with #KhaledBakkar
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Labour minister discusses cooperation with Syrian, Lebanese counterparts on sidelines of ILO Conference
AMMAN — Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar has met with Syria's Minister of Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat to explore aspects of cooperation between the two countries. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 113th session of the International Labour Conference currently being held in Geneva, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported, citing a Ministry of Labour statement on Tuesday. Discussions covered several topics, including the labour inspection system and its development, the 'Himayah' electronic platform for labour complaints, social security, and Jordan's expertise and potential future cooperation in this area. Talks during the meeting also addressed partnerships with the private sector to establish academies that train and equip youth with market-relevant skills. Bakkar reviewed key government programmes and initiatives aimed at boosting private-sector employment opportunities for youth, such as the National Employment Programme and the Satellite Branches Initiative, which contribute to employing Jordanians and localising development in rural and Badia regions. Both ministers stressed the 'deep-rooted and historical' relations between the two nations, particularly in labour affairs. In a separate meeting, Bakkar and Lebanon's Minister of Labour Mohammad Haydar discussed the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding in the near future. The two ministers' expressed commitment to boosting bilateral ties in labour matters, with Bakkar reiterating Jordan's readiness to support Lebanon with necessary services in line with His Majesty King Abdullah's directives to the government. Haydar praised the Kingdom's labour inspection system and vocational training framework. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Amman hosts regional forum on sustainable, inclusive employment
The European Commission and the Union for the Mediterranean, in partnership with the Business Development Centre (BDC), launches the 'Green Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Sustainable and Inclusive Employment' forum in Amman on Wednesday (Petra photo) AMMAN — The European Commission and the Union for the Mediterranean, in partnership with the Business Development Centre (BDC), launched the 'Green Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Sustainable and Inclusive Employment' forum in Amman on Wednesday. The event brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and development practitioners to explore how green enterprise can drive inclusive economic growth across the region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Labour Minister Khaled Bakkar, EU Ambassador Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, and several members of the diplomatic corps attended the forum, which focused on scaling green business models, building resilient labour markets, and advancing environmental innovation. Speakers emphasised the need for stronger alignment between public policy and private sector initiatives to unlock the potential of the green economy, particularly in the areas of job creation, skills development, and digital transformation. 'The shift to a green economy is not a luxury, it's a strategic necessity,' said Bakkar. 'It opens new opportunities for investment in clean energy, recycling and climate tech, while offering a path to improved livelihoods and more resilient communities.' He underscored the importance of coordinated action across government, business, and civil society, stressing that green entrepreneurship must be treated as a key component of economic modernisation rather than a peripheral concern. Chatzisavas reiterated the EU's commitment to the region, highlighting that green and inclusive growth will be central to the forthcoming EU-Mediterranean partnership framework. 'This is about moving from vision to implementation,' he said. 'We need policy coherence and private sector engagement to turn green opportunities into real jobs.' BDC founder and former labour minister Nayef Stetieh described the forum as a platform for action-oriented dialogue. He called for enhanced support systems to empower youth and women to take leadership roles in green sectors. 'We must enable local talent not just to participate in the green economy, but to shape it,' he said. Organisers said the forum serves as a lead-up to the upcoming Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Employment and Labour, scheduled for later this year. Outcomes from the event will help inform regional priorities and contribute to a shared roadmap for sustainable employment and green enterprise development.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Agreement signed to train, employ 700 Jordanians in contracting sector
AMMAN — Chairman of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) and Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar and General Manager of Mid Contracting Company Alaa Masri have signed a cooperation agreement to qualify and employ 700 Jordanians in the contracting and construction sector. Bakkar said that the agreement comes in response to the labour market's "growing" need for specialised technical workers in the contracting sector, a "vital" industry that contributes to economic growth and creation of "sustainable" job opportunities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday. Bakkar stressed the importance of partnerships with the private sector to achieve "sustainable" development and reduce unemployment rates. The minister noted that the empowerment of Jordanian youth to receive the required skills is a "fundamental" pillar of the Economic Modernisation Vision and a national priority. VTC Director General Ahmad Gharaibeh said that the corporation continues to develop its partnerships with "leading" companies in various sectors, aimed to providing training programmes that keep pace with modern technological and professional developments. Gharaibeh noted that this agreement represents a "practical model" of the VTC's endeavours to make a "true" cooperation in linking training to direct employment opportunities. Masri said that the company views this partnership as a "true" investment in national human capital, aimed to train Jordanian youth, in accordance with "high" standards, which would contribute to raising projects' quality and enhancing "competitiveness" of the construction sector locally and regionally. Under the agreement, specialised vocational training programmes are outlined and designed to cover a "wide" range of skills required in the contracting sector, including public safety and work site management. The training will be implemented over two phases, as the theoretical stage lasts six to eight weeks, followed by training at the work sites of Mid Contracting Company, which would enhance trainees' readiness to enter the job market upon graduation. The VTC will also provide equipped training centres in Balqa and Zarqa governorates and "qualified" trainers and logistical services. On its part, the company will provide the "necessary" raw materials, practical training sites, and equipment and commit to employing trainees, who successfully complete the programme, based on its operational needs inside and outside Jordan. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Agreement signed to train, employ 700 Jordanians in contracting sector
Chairman of the Vocational Training Corporation and Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar and General Manager of MID Contracting Company Alaa Masri sign a cooperation agreement to qualify and employ 700 Jordanians in the contracting and construction sector (Petra photo) AMMAN — Chairman of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) and Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar and General Manager of Mid Contracting Company Alaa Masri have signed a cooperation agreement to qualify and employ 700 Jordanians in the contracting and construction sector. Bakkar said that the agreement comes in response to the labour market's "growing" need for specialised technical workers in the contracting sector, a "vital" industry that contributes to economic growth and creation of "sustainable" job opportunities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday. Bakkar stressed the importance of partnerships with the private sector to achieve "sustainable" development and reduce unemployment rates. The minister noted that the empowerment of Jordanian youth to receive the required skills is a "fundamental" pillar of the Economic Modernisation Vision and a national priority. VTC Director General Ahmad Gharaibeh said that the corporation continues to develop its partnerships with "leading" companies in various sectors, aimed to providing training programmes that keep pace with modern technological and professional developments. Gharaibeh noted that this agreement represents a "practical model" of the VTC's endeavours to make a "true" cooperation in linking training to direct employment opportunities. Masri said that the company views this partnership as a "true" investment in national human capital, aimed to train Jordanian youth, in accordance with "high" standards, which would contribute to raising projects' quality and enhancing "competitiveness" of the construction sector locally and regionally. Under the agreement, specialised vocational training programmes are outlined and designed to cover a "wide" range of skills required in the contracting sector, including public safety and work site management. The training will be implemented over two phases, as the theoretical stage lasts six to eight weeks, followed by training at the work sites of Mid Contracting Company, which would enhance trainees' readiness to enter the job market upon graduation. The VTC will also provide equipped training centres in Balqa and Zarqa governorates and "qualified" trainers and logistical services. On its part, the company will provide the "necessary" raw materials, practical training sites, and equipment and commit to employing trainees, who successfully complete the programme, based on its operational needs inside and outside Jordan.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: 'Rapid' labour market shifts push Arabs to rethink economic models — minister
AMMAN: The accelerating transformations in global and Arab labour markets have compelled countries to conduct comprehensive reviews of their national economies in order to adapt to evolving dynamics, Minister of Labour Khaled Bakkar said on Sunday at the Arab Labour Conference. Speaking at the 51st session of the conference, held in Egypt from April 19 to 26 under the theme "Economic Diversification as a Path to Development: Promising Economies in Arab Countries," Bakkar said that the rapid pace of change has affected all three key stakeholders in the production process of governments, employers and workers. The minister emphasised the need to reduce reliance on traditional resources and to open up to emerging sectors capable of generating high-value employment, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. He highlighted the increasing influence of the digital economy on labour markets, pointing to the "widening" skills gap, the "disappearance" of conventional jobs, and the emergence of new professions. Bakkar called for "substantial" investment in digital infrastructure and the modernisation of technical and vocational education systems. The minister identified the digital economy as a 'foundational' pillar for economic diversification and sustainable development in Arab countries. Bakkar also underscored the importance of boosting public-private partnerships in digital transformation projects, offering incentives for investments in innovation and entrepreneurship, and implementing training programmes linked directly to employment. He noted that Jordan has established sectorial skills councils to define training curricula, set evaluation standards, and license programmes in coordination with relevant authorities. Bakkar noted that Jordan has developed the Economic Modernisation Vision 2023–2033, aimed at unlocking the country's full economic potential and improving quality of life for citizens. Addressing regional developments, Bakkar said that the conference is taking place amid 'exceptional' economic and social challenges, driven by escalating political instability. He cited the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, caused by Israeli aggression, as a 'key' factor adding urgency to regional labour and economic discussions. He also congratulated the Arab Labour Organisation on its 60th anniversary, expressing appreciation for its 'longstanding' efforts to promote labour rights and policy coordination across the Arab world. The conference brings together labour ministers, representatives of workers' and employers' organisations, and labour experts from 21 member states of the Arab Labour Organisation.
