Jordan marks Labour Day

AMMAN — Jordan, along with most countries around the world, on Tuesday observes Labour Day, where millions of labourers stop working to consider their conditions and achievements.

On the occasion, His Majesty King Abdullah took to Twitter to commend the achievements of Jordan and Jordanians. “In Labour Day, I salute all working men and women of our homeland and I invite you to make this day a motive for more giving and faithfulness, all at their position. With our collective efforts and work, our homeland will be more prosperous.”

Marked annually on May 1 it is a special moment for countries to highlight the pioneering role of the working class in societies' prosperity and progress, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Labour Minister Samir Murad on Monday said that the government has adopted recruitment over employment to address poverty and unemployment, according to a strategy that focuses on enhancing and stimulating economic growth and finding jobs for Jordanians.

Speaking ahead of Labour Day, he said that economic growth cannot be achieved without cooperation and coordination with professional associations in their capacity as workers' representatives, according to Petra.

The minister noted that the government activated a number of partnerships with the private sector, enhanced the concept of self-recruitment and supported youth recruitment through establishing small enterprises, helping them achieve decent living conditions.

Murad stressed that the ministry is re-assessing and re-organising the labour market, intensifying inspection campaigns and following up on the amended draft Labour Law that was referred to the Lower House, noting that the amendments were made in consultation with the three entities involved in the productive process: workers, employers and the government. 

Labour Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Khatib noted that the ministry will hold a ceremony on the occasion of Labour Day to honour workers who contribute to the prosperity of the Kingdom.

President of the Independent Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions Azzam Smadi said that this year's Labour Day comes at a time when workers have "never been more worried about their futures", according to Petra.

He noted that unemployment rates are still increasing due to failure to generate jobs in the public and private sectors and a lack of investments.

The minimum limit of wages has not achieved anything for workers, despite several demands to increase it, especially in light of high prices of main commodities and the decline in purchase power among limited income classes, including the workers, Smadi noted.

May 1 is a national public holiday in many countries worldwide, in most cases known as "Labour Day", "International Workers' Day" or similar names. Some countries celebrate Labour Day on other dates significant to them, such as the US, which celebrates Labour Day on the first Monday of September.

The date was chosen by a pan-national organisation of socialist and communist political parties to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886, according to online sources.