Gov’t adamant on transparency, providing accurate information to public — Adaileh

AMMAN — Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh on Tuesday affirmed the government’s adherence to transparency, credibility and provision of accurate information to the public, stressing that any case of exaggeration or inciting panic will be met with legal action, and that those behind such cases will be held accountable.

During a press briefing at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management, Adaileh pointed to the apology issued by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, over inaccurate COVID-19 case numbers published on Tuesday as reported by one of its field reporters.

In that regard, the minister reaffirmed that error “cannot be tolerated” in the current situation; and that those who cause it will be held accountable, Petra reported.

On the numerous inquiries received regarding the mechanism for receiving the requests of children born to Jordanian women and non-Jordanian fathers and resident holders of temporary Jordanian passports wishing to return to the Kingdom, he said that the concerned individuals can contact the Jordanian embassies in the countries they are staying in.

They should submit requests through the embassies, he said, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reopen the online platform (safelyhome.gov.jo) in the coming period for everyone who has not been able to register previously.

Commercial sectors will not be allowed to operate during the first day of Eid Al Fitr, Adaileh said, as a comprehensive curfew will be imposed, similar to the one applied every Friday, except that people will be allowed to move on foot.

Adaileh said that Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz on Tuesday issued a circular for the resumption of work in government departments starting on Tuesday, May 26, to all government ministries and institutions, after the approval of the Cabinet.

The circular provides guidelines for institutions returning to work, outlining preventive and public health measures and mechanisms for providing services to citizens.

Jordan is the first country within SIGMA (Support for Improvement in Governance and Management) to issue a guide for the resumption of public sector work after nearly two-and-a-half months of partial suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, the minister said.

The guide includes general considerations related to resuming on-site work, foremost of which is the gradual return of employees to the workplace in three batches, taking into account the percentages determined by concerned ministers, he said.

The return to work must align with decisions based on developments in the epidemiological situation, and must strictly comply with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities regarding prevention measures such as social distancing and wearing masks and gloves.

The guide also stipulates the periodic sterilisation of workplaces, limiting meetings that require physical proximity and replacing them with remote meetings whenever possible, reducing the number of participants in meetings to the minimum necessary number and ensuring social distancing during such meetings.

It stipulates limiting the use of paper forms, replacing them with official electronic means of communication, and limiting the locations for receiving clients, ensuring that they do not enter the building's internal facilities or offices and specifying hours for their visits, Adaileh noted.

It also stressed limiting the circulation of coins and banknotes and replacing them with electronic payment systems, activating e-wallets and maintaining sterilisation procedures and thermal detection at entrances to government buildings.

Adaileh pointed out that, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, some employees will be excluded from on-site work, such as those who have medical records or immunodeficiency.

Also excluded are pregnant and breastfeeding employees, employees who live in areas where the virus has spread and employees who have come into contact with persons infected with the virus, he added.

Among employees not required to work on-site are those facing special circumstances that make it difficult for them to be present at the workplace, notably employees who have children and are not able to provide other caregivers for them, and those who do not have access to transport, the minister said, stressing that the work of all exempted employees must be organised remotely.

He pointed out that “flexible working hours” will be applied in all forms, especially for the employees most at risk of infection, as well as employees who need to stay at home for other reasons, such as caring for family members.

The guide also organises a mechanism for dealing with public service departments and institutions’ clients, which includes organising queues to reduce overcrowding, determining safe distances that ensure proper social distancing and all means of prevention.

Adaileh urged public sector employees to access the guide on the website of the Prime Ministry, on official media platforms and through various media outlets.