Jordan: 65,000 complaints have been filed for layoffs and wage delays since the beginning of the pandemic

Jordan's Minister of Labour, Maen Qatamin, delivered a lecture at the Royal Jordanian National Defence University entitled 'The Labour Market and Manpower in Jordan' in the presence of the Commander, President and members of the University's Policy Committee.

Maen Qatamin presented the state of the labour market and focused on the rising unemployment rates caused by the pandemic and its negative impact on the national economy. The Minister indicated in this context that the number of workers in the labor market is about one million and 377 thousand people.

The Minister of Labor said that since the beginning of the pandemic, the Ministry has received more than 65,000 complaints related to late payments and layoffs. The majority of these complaints have been processed and resolved, allowing many workers to return to their jobs.

The Minister also mentioned the launch of the 'Estidama' program which aims to support workers in companies not authorized to work and workers in sectors most affected by the pandemic. The cost of this program has reached the sum of 200 million dinars.

Maen Qatamin also stressed the importance of the Ministry's role in regulating the labor market for a safe working environment and for the preservation of workers' rights in a way that encourages investment and helps create new employment opportunities. He also recalled that the Ministry is conducting continuous revisions of vocational training programs to equip young people with the skills necessary for their integration into the digital sector.