Amman, January 17, 2024
Jordan Labor Watch (JLW) has affirmed that the approval of the draft system for supplying Jordanian workers to institutions for the year 2023, currently under consideration by the Cabinet, will result in a regression in working conditions and open the door to illegal practices in various sectors where Jordanian workers will be employed.
In a statement issued on Thursday, JLW, affiliated with the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, clarified that there is a discrepancy in the legal affiliation of these workers. They legally fall under the jurisdiction of the supply companies that provide the service, while they work in institutions benefiting from the service.
JLW pointed out in the statement that this imbalance will contribute to "…exploiting workers, creating disparities in rights between them and their counterparts in the same job and tasks affiliated with the institutions benefiting from the service". Consequently, they may be "deprived of their rights" as stipulated in labor and social security laws.
During its monitoring of similar areas of work, such as security and protection companies, and health service support companies, the JLW observed numerous violations of workers' rights, including low wages, lack of social security coverage, long working hours, and a lack of job security.
It warned that by approving this system, the government is attempting to regulate this type of work without considering its negative effects on thousands of Jordanian workers. JLW explained that these measures are the result of recent regressive amendments to Article 10 of the Labor Law, which led to the adoption of this system in addition to another system previously issued, the Private Offices System for Employing Jordanians inside and outside the Kingdom for the year 2023.
JLW also believes that these measures reflect the government's inclination to adopt policies that weaken working conditions under the pretext of boosting the economy and encouraging investment, disregarding the goals for enhancing a decent work environment.
Several indicators, especially those monitored by the JLW, clearly show that the majority of wage workers in Jordan suffer from inadequate working conditions, whether due to a lack of job opportunities, low wage levels, the presence of unregulated workers (not covered by social security), or a lack of job security. Additionally, there is a widespread pattern of violations and attacks on their labor and human rights stipulated in Jordanian labor laws.
JLW sees that adopting a plan to reduce expenses at the expense of workers' rights will only result in impoverished workers, increasing poverty rates and economic disparities among workers in the same job and task.
It emphasized that this draft contradicts internationally recognized standards for decent work, including providing sufficient wages to achieve a decent standard of living for workers, offering opportunities for career development, and promoting sustainable social protection and social security measures for all workers.
Furthermore, the draft contradicts the agreements of the International Labor Organization, particularly Convention No. 100 on Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, ratified by Jordan, in addition to the International Labor Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, especially those related to eliminating discrimination in employment and occupation.
JLW called on the government to refrain from approving the system until amendments are made to ensure the protection of the rights of workers when employed in benefiting institutions. It also urged relevant government authorities, especially the Ministry of Labor and the Social Security Corporation, to intensify inspection and oversight operations on these institutions and supply companies, particularly the employment contracts between them.