The Jordanian Labor Watch has issued a statement urging the government to include workers from various private sector establishments in the announcement regarding the Eid al-Adha holiday. The announcement, released by Prime Minister Bishr Al-Khasawneh last Monday, only mentioned public sector workers, excluding those in the private sector and leading to discrimination.
According to the announcement, the Eid al-Adha holiday will last for five days, starting from Tuesday morning, June 27, 2023, until Saturday evening, July 1, 2023.
Labor Watch emphasized that the government's failure to mention private sector workers in the announcement may cause confusion among them and their employers, potentially subjecting them to violations by employers who require them to work during the official holiday.
Labor Watch called on the government and the Ministry of Labor to issue a clarifying statement that mandates private sector establishments to honor the holiday, including Arafah Day on June 27 and the Eid al-Adha days.
The recurring practice of excluding private sector workers from annual holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is discriminatory. It exacerbates labor market imbalances and drives job seekers to pursue government employment due to better working conditions, contradicting the government's pro-private sector labor policies.