PM issues Defence Order No 32 regulating work of unvaccinated employees

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh on Saturday issued Defence Order No. 32 of 2021 aimed to regulate the work of employees who have not received the COVID vaccine in the public and private sectors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Following are excerpts from the text of Defence Order No. 32:

First: 1- Any public sector employee who has not received the first dose of the COVID vaccine or failed to receive the second dose must submit a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to Sunday and Thursday of every week and submit it to his/her direct superior at their department. 

2- Public sector employees who violate provisions of Article 1 of the first clause are not allowed to join work. The days that they are not allowed to work shall be deducted from their annual leave. If the annual leave days are exhausted, those days will be deducted from their salaries and allowances. 

Second: No work permit shall be issued and no annual residency permit shall be renewed for any resident who has not received one dose or failed to receive the second dose of the COVID vaccine.

Third: 1- Any driver of a public transport vehicle who has not received the first dose or failed to receive the second one must periodically conduct a PCR test and they are always required to present a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours. 

2- Any violator of the first clause will receive a fine of no less than JD100 and no more than JD500. Repeat violators will be fined with the maximum value of the penalty. 

Fourth: 1- Any faculty member, administrative employee or student at higher educational institutions who has not received the first dose of the COVID vaccine or failed to receive the second dose must submit a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to Sunday and Thursday of every week. The PCR test shall be submitted to their direct superior at their department for faculty members and administrative employees, while students must submit their PCR tests to college deans or their representatives. 

2- Faculty members and administrative employees who violate the first clause are not allowed to join work. The days they are not allowed to work are deducted from their annual leaves. If their annual leave days are exhausted, those days will be deducted from their salaries and allowances. Students who violate the first clause are not allowed to enter the campus and their absence days shall be considered absence without excuse. 

Fifth: 1- Faculty members and administrative employees at educational institutions who have not received the first dose of the COVID vaccine or failed to receive the second dose must bring a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to Sunday and Thursday of every week and submit it to their direct superior. 

2- Faculty members and administrative employees who violate the first clause are not allowed to join work. The days they are not allowed to work are deducted from their annual leaves.  If their annual leave days are exhausted, those days will be deducted from their salaries and allowances. 

Sixth: Educational and higher education institutions that violate the fourth and fifth clause of this defence order shall face a fine of no less than JD1,000 and no more than JD3,000. 

Seventh: 1- Employees at private sector institutions who have not received the first dose of the COVID vaccine or failed to receive the second dose must present a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to Sunday and Thursday of every week.

2- Employees who violate the first clause are not allowed to join work. The days that they are not allowed to work are deducted from their annual leaves. If their annual leave days are exhausted, those days will be deducted from their wages. 

3- Institutions that violate the provisions of this clause face a one-week closure for the first time and a two-week closure upon repeat violations.  

Eighth: All those required to conduct PCR tests under this order can undergo the tests at centres affiliated with the Ministry of Health free of charge.

Ninth: Article 3 of the first clause of Defence Order No. 20 for 2020 is amended by cancelling the phrase: “Each team consists of at least two people accompanied by a Public Security Directorate officer.”

Tenth: 1- The first, second, third and ninth clauses of this defence order come into effect as of August 5.

2- The fourth to sixth clauses of this defence order come into effect as of August 15.

3- The seventh clause of this defence order comes into effect as of September 1. 

Eleventh: The prime minister has the authority to extend or amend the provisions of this defence order in light of the developments of the epidemiological situation under circulars issued for this purpose.