Amman,Sunday, July 12, 2026
Anew report has revealed that around 15,000 support service workers employed inJordan’s public hospitals and health centers face precarious working conditionsthat fall short of decent work standards, despite playing a vital role in thecountry’s healthcare system. These workers are essential to the day-to-dayfunctioning of hospitals and health centers, ensuring operational continuityand maintaining safe healthcare environments.
Thereport, issued by the Jordan Labour Watch, examines the working conditions ofsupport service workers, including those employed in cleaning andsterilization, food services, laundry and linen, security, logistics, and otheressential support functions. It finds that although these workers performindispensable tasks that enable healthcare institutions to provideuninterrupted medical services, their employment conditions remain fragile dueto the growing reliance on outsourcing and service procurement companies. Thishas negatively affected wages, social protection, working hours, occupationalsafety and health, and job security.
Thereport notes that official statistics do not classify support service workersas a separate occupational category, making it difficult to determine theirexact number and employment characteristics. However, estimates by the GeneralTrade Union of Health Services Workers indicate that at least 15,000 workersare employed in hospitals and health centers operated by the Ministry ofHealth, underscoring their significant role in the operation of publichealthcare facilities.
Accordingto the report, the majority of workers in this sector receive only the minimumwage of JOD 290, regardless of their years of experience or the nature of theirresponsibilities. This is compounded by the absence of transparent wage scalesor regular salary increases linked to experience, seniority, or performance.
Thereport also documents continued cases of financial deductions that aredisproportionate to the nature of alleged violations or the value of damagedequipment. In addition, salary payments are sometimes delayed due toadministrative procedures related to payments made to outsourcing companies,directly affecting the financial stability of workers and their families.
Thereport further highlights ongoing shortcomings in social protection. Theseinclude cases where some workers are not enrolled in social security, or wheresocial security contributions are deducted from wages but not transferred tothe Social Security Corporation. It also points to uncertainty surrounding thetransfer of government contracts between outsourcing companies, raisingconcerns over the continuity of workers’ social security entitlements.
Moreover,the report indicates that most support service workers do not benefit fromadditional forms of social protection, such as private health insurance,despite performing their duties in workplaces that expose them to significantoccupational risks.
Regardingworking hours, the report finds that many employees work beyond the legallimits without receiving overtime pay. Some also face difficulties in accessingannual or sick leave, while others avoid requesting leave altogether for fearof salary deductions or losing their jobs. These conditions negatively affectworkers’ physical and mental well-being and ultimately impact the quality ofhealthcare services delivered in public institutions.
Thereport also highlights that support service workers are routinely exposed tobiological, chemical, and occupational hazards. However, interviews conductedfor the report revealed shortcomings in the provision of personal protectiveequipment (PPE) and occupational safety and health training. In some cases,workers are even required to pay for work supplies or protective equipmentthemselves, despite employers being legally responsible for providing them.
JordanLabour Watch stressed that the lack of job security remains one of the mostserious challenges facing workers in this sector. Employment continuity dependslargely on the outcome of government tenders and the transfer of contractsbetween outsourcing companies rather than on the operational needs ofhealthcare facilities or workers’ experience and performance. This creates aconstant sense of uncertainty and fear of dismissal or contract non-renewal,discouraging workers from claiming their rights or filing complaints due toconcerns over retaliation.
Thereport emphasizes that improving the working conditions of support serviceworkers is not merely a labor issue but a prerequisite for enhancing thequality and sustainability of healthcare services. It argues that the currentoutsourcing model requires comprehensive reform to strike a balance betweenoperational efficiency and the protection of workers’ rights.
JordanLabour Watch calls for a review of public service procurement contracts toinclude binding provisions that safeguard workers’ rights, establish wagescales linked to experience and years of service, and ensure that workersretain their acquired rights when contracts are transferred between companies.The report also recommends strengthening labor inspections of contractedcompanies, enhancing enforcement of labor and social security legislation, anddeveloping an official database of support service workers to support moreequitable and effective policymaking for this essential sector.