Jordan’s House of Representatives has approved legislation to abolish the Civil Consumer Corporation and merge it with the Military Consumer Corporation, ending nearly 50 years of the civilian institution’s independent operation since its establishment in 1976.
The decision was taken during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Mazen Al-Qadi, attended by members of the government and lasting four and a half hours. Lawmakers stressed that the rights of employees of the Civil Consumer Corporation would be fully protected throughout the merger process before moving on to debate the draft Professional Work Regulation Law.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Investment Committee Khaled Abu Hassan said the committee had conducted extensive consultations with the government, both consumer corporations, employee representatives, and other stakeholders to ensure the merger would improve institutional efficiency without affecting employees or citizens.
He emphasized that the legislation is not intended to eliminate a public service, but rather to unify efforts, remove administrative duplication, and establish a stronger national institution capable of intervening in markets when necessary, securing essential goods, and maintaining price stability. He also noted that the law grants a 120-day transition period to complete the merger.
The proposed merger drew significant parliamentary attention because the Civil Consumer Corporation has long played a key role in supplying essential commodities at affordable prices and helping stabilize markets during periods of price volatility and supply chain disruptions.
Lawmakers stressed that repealing the corporation’s law does not signal the abandonment of its social role, but instead transfers those responsibilities to another government institution under a more streamlined administrative framework.
Several MPs called for clear guarantees that the merger would not affect food security, market stability, or the government’s ability to intervene when necessary, particularly amid current economic challenges and fluctuations in global markets.
The government defended the legislation, describing it as part of a broader public sector reform program aimed at restructuring state institutions, reducing overlapping responsibilities, unifying administrative oversight, improving public spending efficiency, and modernizing government operations.
The bill reflects the government’s ongoing administrative reform agenda, which includes reviewing existing legislation, repealing outdated laws, and transferring essential public services to more efficient institutions while maintaining continuity of service.
During the same session, MP Ataallah Al-Hanaiti submitted a memorandum calling on the government to prepare a general amnesty law. The proposal urges that the legislation serve the national interest by covering cases in which victims have waived their personal rights, while excluding crimes affecting state security, public rights, corruption, and other serious offenses.
The memorandum, which will be submitted to the Speaker before being referred to the government after collecting MPs’ signatures, states that a general amnesty enjoys broad public and parliamentary support because of its anticipated social, economic, and humanitarian benefits.
It argues that such legislation would promote social reconciliation, reunite families, reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities, improve the efficiency of the prison system, and help reintegrate eligible individuals into society and the labor market, thereby supporting economic activity and easing financial pressures on affected families.
