Murad urges incentives for firms hiring local workers

AMMAN — Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) President Issa Murad on Monday demanded that the government make incentives for companies employing local workers, suggesting a reduction in social security deductions to help create more jobs.

Murad delivered his remarks during a meeting where two agreements were signed with Armoush Tourist Investments Company and Sameh Mall to train and employ 850 young people.

He said the private sector is interested to make use of graduates and their energies, especially when they have necessary skills to do their designated tasks within a friendly and innovative environment, as the fear of unemployment is affecting everybody. 

The ACC conducted practical studies that revealed education output does not match the demands of the labour market, which is one of the most significant reasons behind the increase of unemployment among new graduates, according to Murad. 

The two agreements that Murad signed with the chairmen of both companies include training young people and employing them for a year at the companies' branches, Murad said, adding that the chamber will help in supporting the process.

Signing the agreements is part of the rehabilitation programme for recruitment launched by the ACC last year in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and the Employment-Technical and Vocational Education and Training Fund to equip new graduates with necessary experience to enter the job market.

The initiative, which cost more than JD2 million, has so far trained around 1,000 young people. 

It includes two parts: the first is theoretical, taking place at the ACC's rehabilitation and recruitment centre, and the second is practical training at the workplace where trainees are paid salaries, part of which are paid from the chamber. 

Labour Ministry Secretary General Hamadah Abu Nijmeh, who attended the signing ceremony, voiced his appreciation of the chamber's efforts in the field of offering facilitations and support to create job opportunities for Jordanians through its 46,000-strong network in Amman alone. 

Moreover, he stressed the importance of the Ministry of Labour directorate, inaugurated six months ago at the ACC premises.

Ahmad Armoush, chief executive officer (CEO) of Armoush Tourist Investments Company, stressed the importance of cooperation among service institutions and the private sector, while Khalid Rababaa, CEO of Sameh Mall, said most of the employees are Jordanians.