Today, Monday, the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, in collaboration with Action Against Hunger and the "Grow Economy" project coalition, launched the results of two policy papers addressing decent work conditions and gender-based violence in the Jordanian agricultural sector. This took place during a conference that discussed the key challenges facing agricultural workers (both men and women) and the required policies to improve the working environment in this vital sector.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Ahmad Awad, Director of the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies, stated that despite the agricultural sector's significant importance as a fundamental pillar for food security and rural development; in addition to being one of the largest sectors employing labor, particularly informal and unorganized workers; it continues to face deep structural challenges. These include weak working conditions, absence of social protection, high rates of occupational hazards, and the persistence of certain patterns of exploitation, violence, and discrimination.
The first policy paper, presented by researcher Morad Kotkot from the Phenix Center, revealed weak implementation of decent work standards in the agricultural sector; particularly occupational safety and health standards; amid the dominance of informal work patterns, especially in small and medium-sized farms.
The paper highlighted a range of policies and practices that have contributed to weakening the application of decent work conditions in the agricultural sector. Among the most prominent are the mismatch between wage regulation and working hours on one hand, and the realities of agricultural work on the other. The actual enforcement of the minimum wage remains extremely limited, exacerbated by the widespread use of verbal employment contracts and recruitment through informal intermediaries.
The paper also pointed to the absence of an effective supervisory mechanism to ensure compliance with decent work standards, alongside weak institutional commitment to training agricultural workers in safe agricultural practices. It further noted the fragility of the infrastructure supporting occupational safety and health such as the lack of clean drinking water, first-aid facilities, and safe rest areas in many farms as well as the limited inclusion of agricultural workers under social security coverage, despite existing legislation obligating employers to provide it.
The paper recommended the necessity of amending occupational safety and health legislation to better meet workers' needs; particularly those of women working in the agricultural sector and integrating gender perspectives into inspection procedures and safety policies. It also called for updating inspection mechanisms to adopt a proactive approach that evaluates the effectiveness of risk prevention plans in farms, rather than merely detecting violations. Additionally, it advocated developing flexible insurance tools suited to the nature of agricultural work, ensuring full inclusion of all agricultural workers under social security coverage.
Commenting on the paper's findings, Ola Majdoub, Head of Financial Risks at the Social Security Corporation, noted that numerous regulations mandate the inclusion of agricultural workers in social security most notably the 2021 Agricultural Workers Regulation, which obligates employers to enroll their workers in social security.
Ms. Majdoub explained that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent defense orders and directives particularly Directive No. 41 limited the application of these regulations and represented a setback in obligating employers to include agricultural workers in social security.
She affirmed the Social Security Corporation's commitment to expanding the social protection umbrella to cover all agricultural workers, highlighting the 2023 amendment to the Social Security Law particularly Article 59; which stipulated the inclusion of agricultural workers under work injury and maternity insurance as an initial step toward gradual expansion to other insurance branches.
For his part, Firas Shatnawi, an expert in occupational safety and health, pointed to a significant gap in applying occupational safety and health standards in the agricultural sector, especially in small and medium-sized farms, despite legislation requiring employers to provide safety equipment and reduce work-related risks and injuries.
Mr. Shatnawi explained that the informal nature of agricultural work complicates enforcement of these regulations, leading to higher numbers of work injuries. He noted that most injuries among agricultural workers are severe and serious, often resulting in permanent disability or death. He stressed the need to strengthen awareness and training programs for both workers and employers, and to raise compliance levels with safety procedures to reduce these risks.
Ahmad Awad, Director of the Phenix Center, emphasized that the core problem in the agricultural sector lies in its predominantly informal nature particularly in small and medium-sized farms; which negatively affects the rights of both workers and employers.
Mr. Awad clarified that the agricultural worker bears the heaviest burden in this unorganized relationship, being the weakest party and thus more vulnerable to exploitation and deprivation of basic rights. He underscored the need to regulate the relationship between agricultural workers and employers through documented written contracts adapted to the nature of agricultural work, thereby protecting workers' rights and improving their working conditions.
Regarding the second policy paper, presented by researcher Hadeel Al-Qudah from the Phenix Center, its findings showed that the majority of women working in the agricultural sector receive lower wages than men. Their daily wages typically range between one and one-and-a-half dinars per hour, reflecting a clear wage gap and inequality in working conditions.
The paper identified several reasons linked to weak policies on gender-based violence, including inadequate national legislation on the issue, the absence of gender mainstreaming in monitoring and inspection mechanisms, insufficient numbers of labor inspectors relative to the number of farms, uneven geographical distribution of inspection teams, limited representation of women in unions and agricultural organizations, and the lack of effective coordination among government institutions concerned with agriculture and gender issues.
The paper recommended increasing the number of female labor inspectors to ensure safe communication with women agricultural workers especially in the Jordan Valley integrating care services such as childcare and flexible working hours into agricultural projects, linking farm licenses to compliance with occupational safety and health standards, developing a gender-responsive agricultural compliance code, and amending the Labor Law to include an explicit definition of gender-based violence along with clear and deterrent penalties.
Mr. Nashat Al-Mara'fa, from the Legal Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Labor, stated that the Labor Law prohibits wage discrimination under Article 53. He added that regulations and instructions aim to provide a safe working environment for agricultural workers (men and women), including the new 2023 occupational safety and health systems covering the Occupational Safety and Health and Prevention of Risks in Establishments System, the Medical and Preventive and Therapeutic Care for Workers System, and the System for Forming Occupational Safety and Health Committees and Appointing Supervisors in Establishments.
He noted that the Ministry of Labor's "Protection" platform is available for workers to submit complaints, with the option of anonymous reporting, thereby enhancing workers' access to legal protection mechanisms.
Ms. Dima Arabiyat, Head of Economic Empowerment at the National Committee for Women's Affairs, stressed the urgent need to develop a comprehensive national strategy addressing the needs of agricultural workers particularly women and ensuring their participation in shaping it. She emphasized the importance of coordination between official and non-official entities for effective and sustainable implementation.
Ms. Arabiyat also highlighted the necessity of economically and organizationally empowering women agricultural workers and enhancing their participation in union and organizational frameworks, which would help protect their rights and reduce forms of discrimination and violence.
Ms. Asia Hayasat, an expert on gender-based violence, affirmed that training Ministry of Labor inspection teams on gender considerations in the agricultural sector is a fundamental step to ensure professional and safe handling of complaints from women agricultural workers. She stressed the importance of developing inspection tools that respect the specificity of agricultural work and provide safe spaces for women to report violations without fear of stigma or loss of income.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants emphasized the need to strengthen coordination between government entities and civil society organizations, and to develop relevant legislation and policies. This would ensure improved working conditions in the agricultural sector, protection of workers' rights (both men and women), and the reduction of all forms of violence and exploitation.