Jordan Labor Watch
Over 150 workers at the Lafarge Cement Jordan Co. have participated in a strike to protest the management's decision to halt annual increases and terminate an end-of-service benefits scheme. The workers began the open-ended strike at the Rashidiya factory branch in Southern Jordan, as a response to the company's decision to reduce workers' salaries and its refusal to pay the annual increases due to workers.
The striking workers have confirmed to Jordan Labor Watch that they will not return to work before a collective labor agreement has been signed to ensure that their demands will be met. Lafarge has chosen to rely on Article 31 of the Jordanian Labor Law, which mandates that employers pay a three-month salary in the event of termination of employment.
Workers also stated that Lafarge's management has halted a scholarship program for the children of employees at the company, in addition to reducing salaries and halting the annual increase for employees. These changes reflect a decision made by the administration in March of the previous year, which has not been updated or renewed since.
Tareq Al-Fureijat, one of the employees at the company and one of the organizers of the strike, said that the management has attempted to seek retired employees as mediators to lift the workers' strike. Al-Furiejat noted that the retired employees themselves are standing in solidarity with the current employees, and are resolute in their support of their previous colleagues' demands to ensure justice and equality between retired employees and employees still working at the company.
Al-Fureijat noted that lifting the strike will be directly linked with a collective labor agreement negotiated between the General Trade Union of Constructions Workers and the company's management, providing workers with their full rights and demands - with their demand to receive their annual increases and end-of-service benefits being the most urgent priorities for the workers. He also expressed that the company, which has recently had its declaration of insolvency upheld by the Court of Appeals, has used this as an excuse for not granting workers their rights.
Jordan Labor Watch attempted to reach the company's Chief Executive Officer, Samaan Al-Samaan, but he was unavailable for comment.