Stakeholders sign memo adopting 4-year Decent Work Agenda

AMMAN — The Labour Ministry, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the General Federation Of Jordan Trade Unions (GFJTU) and the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) implementing the Decent Work Agenda 2018-2022.

The memo aims at giving priority to employment opportunities to contribute to economic and social stability, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The MoU was signed by Labour Minister Samir Murad, ILO’s deputy regional director at the regional office for Arab states, Frank Hagemann, GFJTU President Mazen Maaytah and JCI Director General Maher Mahrouq. 

The deal, signed at the ministry’s headquarters, entails the agreement of all parties to implement the Decent Work Agenda 2018-2022, improve working conditions for all, and create equal opportunities for Jordanians, refugees, migrants, women and men.

During the ceremony, Murad said that Jordan had made “remarkable” progress in promoting decent job conditions for all through its latest national programme of decent work (2016-2017), mainly in the fields of social protection, child labour and improving working conditions. 

The minister noted that since it joined the ILO in 1956, the Kingdom has ratified 26 agreements, including seven of the eight basic accords.

He expressed appreciation for the ILO’s partnership to support the government in facing the economic challenges of low growth and high unemployment, especially among women and youth, through the implementation of the National Framework for Youth Empowerment and Employment and the Human Resource Development Strategy.

Hagemann said that the ILO works in close partnership with the government and social stakeholders to address the challenges of low growth and high unemployment, especially among women and youth, in line with the 2030 Plan.

He stressed the organisation’s support of national efforts at achieving decent working conditions and social justice.

The ILO official added that the programme would focus on improving the management of the labour market and promoting proper employment conditions, and will contribute to boosting national efforts aimed at addressing poverty and maintaining social stability.

Maaytah and Mahrouq praised the efforts of the ministry and ILO in adopting decent working conditions for their importance in enhancing the social partnership, attributing the delay in applying these conditions to economic challenges in the Kingdom and recurrent refugee influxes.