Latest news with #YarmoukUniversity
Jordan Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
The role of foreign workers in Jordan's economy
A discussion was recently held at Yarmouk University, organized by the Center for Sustainable Development Studies, to look at the role of foreign workers in Jordan's economy. This topic is not new, but it remains complicated because it involves not only the economy, but also social, cultural, and population issues. The reason the issue is still important today is that the Jordanian labor market continues to face major problems. Official data shows that foreign workers make up about 21% of Jordan's total labor force. Most of them work in sectors like agriculture, construction, domestic work, and some light industries. These are jobs that many Jordanians do not want to do, so foreign workers help keep these sectors running. Foreign workers help fill labor shortages and lower costs for businesses, making some industries more competitive. But this also creates a divided labor market. Foreign workers often have lower wages, fewer rights, and worse working conditions than Jordanians. This makes it harder for unemployed Jordanians to compete fairly and find good jobs. Many foreign workers are employed in the informal sector. This means they often work without legal permits or official contracts, especially in agriculture, construction, and domestic services. These jobs usually don't offer health insurance, safety protections, or social security. Because of this, the government loses money it could have collected through taxes and fees. Also, Jordanian workers end up competing unfairly with foreign workers in these sectors. And although it's normal for foreign workers to send money home, in Jordan's case, this puts extra pressure on the country's economy by reducing foreign currency reserves. Solving this problem doesn't mean pushing foreign workers out or violating their rights. Instead, Jordan needs better economic and labor policies. These should aim to reduce dependency on foreign workers over time and encourage Jordanians to enter all types of jobs. Some ways to do this include raising the minimum wage, improving work conditions, and offering better training programs. This would help make jobs more attractive to young Jordanians, especially in areas with high unemployment. Looking deeper into the labor market, we see many problems: an uneven spread of jobs across sectors and regions, low participation in the workforce, and unstable unemployment levels. The market is clearly divided into two parts: the primary sector includes stable and well-paid jobs, often in government and finance; the secondary sector includes low-paying, unstable jobs, usually done by foreign workers. According to the Segmented Labor Market Theory, it's not just skills or education that determine job opportunities—things like social status, connections, and institutional rules also play a big role. Unemployment in Jordan has many causes. On the supply side, many people have entered the labor market due to migration into Jordan (including forced migration) and the high number of university graduates in fields that don't match what the job market needs. On the demand side, the economy isn't growing fast enough to create enough jobs. There is also less demand for Jordanian exports and not enough foreign investment. In addition, changing economic policies and the weak link between education and job skills have made things worse, especially for young people. In the future, Jordan needs to treat foreign workers as part of the national economy, not as a problem. The key is to organize and regulate this workforce in a way that supports the economy and protects fairness. At the same time, the country must focus on giving Jordanians the skills and opportunities they need to compete in the labor market. Raad Mahmoud Al-Tal is head of the Economics Department – University of Jordan – [email protected]
Jordan Times
13-05-2025
- Science
- Jordan Times
Digital technology projects to strengthen refugee resilience in Jordan conclude
The Royal Scientific Society organises a final workshop for digital technology projects aiming at enhancing refugee resilience (Photo courtesy of the Royal Scientific Society) AMMAN — The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) has organised a final workshop for digital technology projects aiming at enhancing refugee resilience. Funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering-UK, the workshop was organised in collaboration with the University of Bradford, Applied Sciences Private University and Yarmouk University, according to a RSS statement. The event marked the completion of two main projects. The first project, Golden Thread to Sustainability, Inclusivity, Affordability and Futureproofing in Global South through Innovative Advancements in Net-Positive Housing (SIAH-NP), introduced a new model for housing in developing countries, focusing on sustainable, innovative, and affordable housing. The project views housing not just as shelter, but as a tool to promote sustainable development. It seeks to improve energy, water, and food systems, while also raising the quality of life in surrounding areas. SIAH-NP adopts a net positive approach, designing housing systems that create more environmental and socioeconomic value than they consume. This is achieved by integrating Modern Design Methods of Construction, circular economy principles, and smart decentralised systems. These components work together to minimise environmental impact and increase resilience to climate change. The second project, Community Mapping of the WEFE Nexus within Refugee Camps in Jordan (CoMAP), focuses on building community-based mapping frameworks for managing the water, energy, food, and ecosystems nexus in refugee camps, using Baqaa camp as a case study. It emphasises the role of community participation in mapping and decision-making for better resource planning and management. Despite earlier efforts in mapping, much of the existing data in refugee camps is either outdated or inconsistent. CoMAP highlights the need for updated, accurate geospatial data to support long-term planning. The workshop underlined the importance of these projects in improving refugee living conditions, promoting sustainability, and supporting social justice in refugee communities. It also emphasised their potential in helping policymakers, urban planners, and housing experts design practical solutions for the housing sector.
Jordan Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
The role of migrant workers in Jordan's economy
A discussion was recently held at Yarmouk University, organized by the Center for Sustainable Development Studies, to look at the role of migrant workers in Jordan's economy. This topic is not new, but it remains complicated because it involves not only the economy, but also social, cultural, and population issues. The reason the issue is still important today is that the Jordanian labor market continues to face major problems. Official data shows that migrant workers make up about 21 per cent of Jordan's total labor force. Most of them work in sectors like agriculture, construction, domestic work, and some light industries. These are jobs that many Jordanians do not want to do, so foreign workers help keep these sectors running. Migrant workers help fill labor shortages and lower costs for businesses, making some industries more competitive. But this also creates a divided labor market. Migrant workers often have lower wages, fewer rights, and worse working conditions than Jordanians. This makes it harder for unemployed Jordanians to compete fairly and find good jobs. Many migrant workers are employed in the informal sector. This means they often work without legal permits or official contracts, especially in agriculture, construction, and domestic services. These jobs usually don't offer health insurance, safety protections, or social security. Because of this, the government loses money it could have collected through taxes and fees. Also, Jordanian workers end up competing unfairly with foreign workers in these sectors. And although it's normal for migrant workers to send money home, in Jordan's case, this puts extra pressure on the country's economy by reducing foreign currency reserves. Solving this problem doesn't mean pushing migrant workers out or violating their rights. Instead, Jordan needs better economic and labor policies. These should aim to reduce dependency on foreign workers over time and encourage Jordanians to enter all types of jobs. Some ways to do this include raising the minimum wage, improving work conditions, and offering better training programs. This would help make jobs more attractive to young Jordanians, especially in areas with high unemployment. Looking deeper into the labor market, we see many problems: an uneven spread of jobs across sectors and regions, low participation in the workforce, and unstable unemployment levels. The market is clearly divided into two parts: the primary sector includes stable and well-paid jobs, often in government and finance; the secondary sector includes low-paying, unstable jobs, usually done by migrant workers. According to the Segmented Labor Market Theory, it's not just skills or education that determine job opportunities, things like social status, connections, and institutional rules also play a big role. Unemployment in Jordan has many causes. On the supply side, many people have entered the labour market due to migration into Jordan (including forced migration) and the high number of university graduates in fields that don't match what the job market needs. On the demand side, the economy isn't growing fast enough to create enough jobs. There is also less demand for Jordanian exports and not enough foreign investment. In addition, changing economic policies and the weak link between education and job skills have made things worse, especially for young people. In the future, Jordan needs to treat migrant workers as part of the national economy, not as a problem. The key is to organize and regulate this workforce in a way that supports the economy and protects fairness. At the same time, the country must focus on giving Jordanians the skills and opportunities they need to compete in the labor market. Raad Mahmoud Al-Tal is head of the Economics Department – University of Jordan- [email protected]
Jordan News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Jordan News
Government Allocates Sites for Establishing Four Gaming and E-Sports Centers as Part of the Creative Industries Initiative
Government Allocates Sites for Establishing Four Gaming and E-Sports Centers as Part of the Creative Industries Initiative The government has designated locations for the establishment of four gaming and e-sports centers as part of a dedicated project in this domain. It has signed memorandums of understanding with Aqaba Development Corporation to attract an investor in Aqaba Governorate, and with Yarmouk University to attract an investor in Irbid Governorate. اضافة اعلان According to a report by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), featured in the Q1 2025 Executive Program for the Economic Modernization Vision 2023–2025, under the creative industries sector, the government has contracted an operator to design and manage two pioneering centers in the southern and northern regions as part of the technology centers initiative. In the film production sector, the government has updated its study on the economic impact of incentives offered to audiovisual production projects. It has submitted a revised version of the financial rebate framework—commonly known as production incentives—for approval and implementation. — (Petra)
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Pahang Sultan calls for state govt to enhance academic ties with Yarmouk University
KUANTAN: The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, have expressed their hope that the Pahang government will further enhance its academic cooperation with Yarmouk University in Jordan. In a post on the Kesultanan Pahang Facebook page yesterday, Their Royal Highnesses said that that the academic field encompassed research, as well as Islamic economic innovation, green technology, and sustainable development. "May it fulfil the aspiration to make Pahang a model developed state based on Maqasid Syariah and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," the post read. Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah also extended their congratulations to Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail on being conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Islamic Economics and Banking by Yarmouk University. Their Royal Highnesses said the award, which was personally presented by Yarmouk University president Prof Dr Islam Massad, was a symbol of cooperation and recognition of Wan Rosdy's efforts and leadership, which had carried the name of the Pahang Government "Hopefully, the award received will help drive Pahang towards continuous success and create an academic framework that fosters knowledge growth for the benefit of all," said Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah. Meanwhile, in a post on his official Facebook page, Wan Rosdy conveyed his sincere gratitude to Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah for their congratulatory messages on the award he was honoured with. He described the award as a great honour not just for himself but also for all members of the state government administration, who have consistently upheld the principles of governance based on Maqasid Syariah and the SDGs. – BERNAMA
