Fourth conference for SMEs kicks off

AMMAN — The fourth conference for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) kicked off on Tuesday under the theme “Dialogue between employers and employees: Towards effective labour market policies”.

During the conference, coorganised by the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Labour Ministry and General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, Secretary General of the Labour Ministry Farouq Hadidi said that unemployment is a barrier for sustainable economic development, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Unemployment has reached an unprecedented 25 per cent rate for the whole labour force, while youth unemployment currently stands at almost 30 per cent, he said.

Hadidi added that Royal directives issued upon the start of the state’s second centennial emphasised the importance of introducing reforms that foster economic and political participation among youth. 

Unlocking the potential of all economic sectors was also highlighted in the directives as the key to creating more opportunities and encouraging sustainable development. 

JCI President Fathi Jaghbir described the conference as a means for the chamber to increase the influence of employers in public policy formulation and enhancing the contribution of its members, mainly SMEs, towards realising sustainable development.

Jaghbir noted that the private sector, and in particular the industrial sector, forms the foundation of the national economy, employing some 250,000 people, most of whom are Jordanians. Industrial firms also tend to offer jobs with rates three times higher than those in other sectors. 

He also stressed that the Economic Modernisation Vision, which aims to unleash the capabilities of various economic sectors, aims at generating one million jobs over the next decade, 30 per cent of which will be in the industrial sector.

Mazen Maaytah, head of the federation, said that the body will always adopt the social dialogue approach in order to ensure an effective and successful federation, calling for work mechanisms that balance the interests of all stakeholders, guarantee workers’ rights, develop production and increase economic activities.