The Jordan Labor Watch has emphasized the urgent need to abolish the sponsorship system for migrant workers in Jordan. They advocate for a new system that is flexible and ensures the protection of workers' rights in accordance with international standards, allowing them freedom of movement, travel, work, and choice of employer.
The Jordan Labor Watch's statement highlights that the legislative framework for migrant workers in Jordan lacks adequate protections. Numerous exceptions in various laws and regulations create discrimination against migrant workers and pave the way for increased violations against them. This statement was issued by the Jordan Labor Watch, affiliated with the Phenix Center for Economic Studies, in conjunction with International Migrants Day.
The statement asserts that migrant laborers in Jordan face multiple violations and discrimination, including minimum wage decisions that apply only to Jordanians and the exclusion of domestic workers from social protection under the social security system, despite being covered by Jordanian labor law. Additionally, many migrant workers experience real-world practices that violate their rights due to the sponsorship system, which is identified as their greatest challenge.
The sponsorship system ties the fates of migrant workers and all their transactions to their employer (sponsor), severely restricting their freedom to move, travel, choose where to work, as well as their wages, vacation time, and working hours. The statement notes that many are sometimes pressured or threatened by sponsors to report them for deportation or to cancel their sponsorship if they do not comply with demands. This situation is viewed as a form of slavery and exploitation.
The Jordan Labor Watch argues that linking all aspects of a worker's life to the will of the sponsor leads to a violation of migrant workers' rights and a lack of respect for their freedoms. Therefore, it insists that workers should be key parties in their contracts with employers and should have the right to terminate their employment contracts whenever they wish.
Regarding the number of migrant workers holding work permits, the statement mentions approximately 350,000 workers are documented, while estimates suggest over one million migrant workers are in Jordan. This indicates that most migrant workers are undocumented and operate outside formal regulations.
The Jordan Labor Watch anticipates a decline in non-Jordanian worker numbers in the coming years due to recent political changes in Syria that have opened pathways for Syrian refugees worldwide to return home after years of displacement.
The statement also addresses recent government actions regarding proposed amendments to labor laws. These amendments would reinforce the Minister of Labor's authority to deport any undocumented foreign worker without judicial review. The Jordan Labor Watch contends that deportation decisions should come from a judicial authority rather than directly from an executive authority like the minister since courts are better suited to handle such matters fairly. Many migrant workers do not have their permits renewed because their employers avoid paying renewal fees. This situation leaves workers vulnerable to deportation without fair trials assessing any alleged violations. The Jordan Labor Watch emphasizes the need for fair procedures before deportation decisions are made.
The statement calls for a reevaluation of legislative frameworks concerning migrant workers, particularly focusing on replacing the sponsorship system with one that ensures flexibility and protects migrants' rights according to international standards. Migrant workers should have freedom in travel, work choices, and be key parties in their employment contracts with sponsors while retaining the right to terminate these contracts under specified conditions.
Finally, it recommends organizing and regulating Jordan's labor market to address significant chaos caused by an increase in undocumented migrant labor—affecting both local workers' interests and exposing them to numerous violations. This can be achieved through establishing a "migration policy" aimed at regulating migrant labor within Jordan.