AMMAN — On
the occasion of International Decent Work Day, celebrated on October 7, the
Jordanian Center for Labor Rights, known as "Workers' House," has
released its annual report.
اضافة اعلان
The report
sheds light on the challenges confronting the
Jordanian labor market, including
a noticeable decline in the
national economy's capacity to generate employment
opportunities. Additionally, it highlights persistently high unemployment rates
in recent years, an unprecedented situation in the country's history, Ammon
News reported.
Decrease in
economic participation
The report
points out a significant decrease in
economic participation, with only 33.4
percent of the working-age population engaging in economic activities. Youth
unemployment has surged to 47.0 percent, attributed to various factors such as
the annual influx of new job seekers, economic conditions, lack of investment,
and the absence of programs aimed at helping young people transition from
education to decent employment.
Long-term
unemployment is a growing concern
Long-term
unemployment has also become a growing concern, affecting 65.5 percent of
jobseekers for more than 11 consecutive months. Females are disproportionately
affected, with 72.3 percent of long-term unemployed individuals being women,
compared to 62.7 percent of men. Furthermore, there are 195,489 jobseekers who
have never had
employment opportunities, with 45.2 percent of them being
females.
This
indicates that a significant portion of jobseekers possess skills and
experience but struggle to find suitable job opportunities.
In terms of
working conditions, the report reveals that 36.8 percent of workers in Jordan
work more than 49 actual hours per week. Approximately 8.3 percent earn less
than JD200 monthly, falling below the minimum wage, with a higher percentage
among females at 14.4 percent. Overall, more than a third of workers earn less
than or equal to the
minimum wage, highlighting inadequate working conditions.
Despite a
decision to raise the minimum wage to JD260 in February 2020, with gradual
increases to match inflation, the government has not implemented these changes.
This not only violates labor laws but also contradicts Article 23 of the
Jordanian Constitution, which obliges the state to ensure fair wages for
workers. Such practices also have adverse effects on the national economy, as
they erode the purchasing power of the majority of citizens.
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