The Ministry of Labor and the Jordan Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) allowing commercial establishments and small enterprises affiliated with chambers of commerce across the Kingdom to recruit a limited number of non-Jordanian workers on a one-time basis—from various nationalities and in professions open to foreign labor—provided they commit to employing Jordanians.
اضافة اعلان
The MoU also permits these establishments to hire existing non-Jordanian workers already in Jordan from all sectors and economic activities, with several exceptions. These include workers in the garment and apparel industry registered with the Ministry of Investment in development zones, workers with freelance or specialized skill permits, building service workers, and any labor recruited to Jordan after January 1, 2025. Employers must also regularize the status of these workers by December 31, 2025, within the commercial sector.
Minister of Labor Dr. Khalid Al-Bakar emphasized the ministry’s commitment to forging a genuine partnership with the private sector to ensure business continuity. He highlighted the importance of balancing the operational needs of commercial establishments for non-Jordanian labor with the employment of Jordanians in these sectors.
The minister noted that the commercial sector plays a vital role in supporting the national economy and creating jobs for Jordanians. He affirmed the ministry’s readiness to issue permits for specialized, skilled foreign workers in cases where no local alternatives are available.
Dr. Al-Bakar also called for expanding opportunities for Jordanians in various commercial fields and urged chambers of commerce to help the ministry engage with young people to raise awareness of financial support programs that enable them to start their own businesses.
For his part, Senator Khalil Al-Haj Tawfiq, President of both the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Amman Chamber of Commerce, expressed appreciation for the minister’s responsiveness to the chambers’ requests to address the need for foreign labor in the commercial sector. He praised the ministry’s efforts in addressing labor-related issues affecting the business community.
Al-Haj Tawfiq stressed that the commercial sector prioritizes employing Jordanian workers, but the shortage of skilled labor in certain professions has disrupted the operations of some businesses. He reaffirmed the chambers’ support for entrepreneurial Jordanian youth and noted that the Economic Modernization Vision represents a flexible partnership between the private sector and the government, adaptable to changing circumstances.
The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Abdul Halim Doujan, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labor, along with members of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and several chamber presidents from across the governorates.
