AMMAN — On Tuesday, an electric fire
broke out in Karak, claiming the lives of an entire family holding Pakistani
nationality.
The tragic event brought to the forefront the harsh living and
working conditions of Pakistani workers in the Kingdom, who live in tin shacks
or tents.
اضافة اعلان
All members of the deceased family were born
in Jordan. The father was born in 1988 and worked in the agriculture sector in
the Ghor Al-Mazraa area, the mother was born in 1990 and worked in the textile
sector as a seamstress, and the three daughters — ages six, seven, and nine —
were all in primary school.
Unclear numbersAccording to a report released by Tamkeen for
Legal Aid and Human Rights, most Pakistani families in Jordan work in the
agricultural sector and have been for three generations, AmmanNet reported.
No clear figures exist for the number of
Pakistanis residing in Jordan, and estimates vary. The 2015 census by the
Department of Statistics stated that the number was 7,714 and that of those, 41
percent are female.
Another estimate puts the number of Pakistanis
currently in the Kingdom at 20,000. This estimation includes extended families.
Some 4,000 of those Pakistanis hold work permits in the agricultural sector.
The Embassy of Pakistan believes that the
number of Pakistani agricultural workers ranges from 6,000 to 8,000, including
their wives and children. This number, it said, represents the vast majority of
the
Pakistani community in the Kingdom, and while Pakistanis in Jordan do not
generate large incomes, they typically have large families.
In 2021, the Ministry of Labor estimated that 2,887
Pakistani workers hold work permits.
Unsafe housingThe family who died in a fire Tuesday lived in
a tent with several rooms. It was made up of thick cardboard and wood and was
covered in pieces of plastic on the outside, which caused the fire to spread
faster, Tamkeen reported after field monitoring.
One of the deceased's relatives said that no neighbors or relatives could reach the family due to the intensity of the fire and the fact that the tent door was closed from the inside.
One of the deceased's relatives said that no
neighbors or relatives could reach the family due to the intensity of the fire
and the fact that the tent door was closed from the inside.
The report revealed that the fire began at
1:30am, a small distance from the tent in which the family resided.
This was not the first time an electric fire
exacerbated by unfit housing has claimed lives in Jordan.
On December 2, 2019, 13 of the 16 individuals
living in a makeshift house died from an electrical fire. The house was made
from pieces of wood, a meter-long wall of plastic, metal, cardboard panels, and
a carton ceiling covered in plastic.
The fire in 2019 broke out in the Karama area
near Southern Shouna.
The report confirmed that Pakistani workers
live in unsafe conditions. Most of them live in tents or tin huts, where
cooking is done with firewood. And potable water, sanitary facilities, and
other resources hard to come by.
Most of the dwellings also lack windows,
ventilation, and lighting, placing the population at a high risk of fire,
injuries, respiratory illnesses, and insect bites.
Historic presenceMost Pakistani families in Jordan are believed
to come from Balochistan and Sindh in south Pakistan. Their presence in Jordan
traces back to the early 1960s when their grandparents and fathers settled in
agricultural areas.
In the early 1960s, many Pakistanis visited
Al-Aqsa Mosque after completing hajj to sanctify their pilgrimage, making their
way to Jordan after the trip. In 1978, their presence in Jordan grew,
especially after Jordan and Pakistan signed a labor exchange agreement. This
coincided with Jordan launching a green project as the Jordan Valley Authority
required more farmers.
Many Pakistani families have been working in
Jordan's agricultural sector for three generations, the report said. And of
those, a large number of second- and third-generation family members were born
in Jordan.
Despite their historical presence, not a
single person of Pakistani nationality has obtained Jordanian citizenship or a long-term
residence, since Jordanian law does not permit this, the report added.
Many second- and third-generation Pakistanis in the Kingdom have never visited Pakistan and feel culturally closer to Jordan than their country of origin.
Many second- and third-generation Pakistanis
in the Kingdom have never visited Pakistan and feel culturally closer to Jordan
than their country of origin. Considering that they have lived their entire
lives in Jordan, many speak fluent Arabic, especially those who have had the
opportunity to attend school.
No path to long-term residency,
citizenshipA challenge many Pakistanis face in Jordan is
their inability to obtain citizenship or long-term residency.
Pakistani workers pay around JD520 for
agricultural work permits, medical examination fees, and the cost of residency
permits for their children and spouses. Some are required to pay rent on their
guarantor’s land, cover the cost of agricultural production supplies, or pay
for the transportation of crops.
And low vegetable prices often expose them to
losses.
Residency fines are a big challenge for the
Pakistani community in Jordan, interviews conducted by Tamkeen revealed. Pakistani
workers often miss deadlines for residency renewal because their work permits
require a Jordanian sponsor.
The report showed that Pakistani workers in
the agricultural sector move seasonally in pursuit of work, moving to Al-Ramtha,
Mafraq, and other areas from April until November, then returning to the Jordan
Valley from December until March to work and shelter their children from the
rain and hail.
Healthcare, education barriersAfter finding work, Pakistani workers usually
reside on farms after agreeing with the farm owner on a daily wage, typically
estimated at JD1 per hour, in exchange for farm accommodation, electricity, and
water.
Some workers have claimed that labor is
compulsory, and men and women over 15 years of age are not allowed to freely
choose whether to work or not.
Occupational health and safety tools are often
unavailable to employees, regardless of the nature of their work. At times,
only gloves are provided, and to the men alone, because the cultural norm is
that men are more deserving than women, especially when supplies are limited.
Because of the high financial costs of private schools, many Pakistanis in Jordan do not attend school at all.
Health insurance is also not provided for
Pakistani families in Jordan, forcing them to pay huge medical bills to
government hospitals. They often turn to private clinics and pharmacies for
treatment, which are still less expensive than hospitals.
The Ministry of Education prohibits the
enrollment of foreign non-Arab students in public schools. Because of the high
financial costs of private schools, many Pakistanis in Jordan do not attend
school at all. However, some public school principals overlook the regulations
and allow Pakistani students to enroll “in light of the humanitarian
situation”.
Children often stay in school for only four or
five years, then join their families at work. While cost is one factor in
pulling children out of school, the additional pair of hands every child offers
plays a role.
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