Amman — Minister of Labor Khaled Al-Bakkar patronized the national ceremony organized by the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) on Saturday at the Royal Cultural Center, celebrating International Labor Day. The event was attended by union leaders, employers’ representatives, civil society organizations, and members of the Senate and Parliament.
اضافة اعلان
Royal Greetings and National Vision
Minister Al-Bakkar conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan to Jordan's workers, praising their tireless contributions to the nation’s development. He emphasized that the celebration is a message of the state’s deep appreciation for the value of work and its belief in the workers' role in driving national economic prosperity.
Launching the National Decent Work Program
During the ceremony, the Minister announced the launch of the National Decent Work Program, implemented in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and in partnership with workers' and employers' representatives. The program aims to:
Enhance decent work opportunities and achieve social justice.
Support comprehensive and sustainable economic growth in line with the Economic Modernization Vision.
Utilize a tripartite approach involving the government, labor unions, and employers.
Strategies for Employment and Skill Development
Al-Bakkar detailed the government's two-pronged strategy to address unemployment:
Domestic Strategy: Strengthening national employment programs, Royal initiatives for production branches, and providing soft loans through the Development and Employment Fund to empower the private sector.
International Strategy: Equipping Jordanian youth with global market skills and signing cooperation agreements with countries such as the GCC states, Germany, Italy, and Canada to market qualified Jordanian talent.
He also highlighted the focus on bridging the "skills gap" by training youth in emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), data protection, and modernizing traditional crafts through technology.
Union Modernization and Inclusivity
Khaled Al-Fanatseh, President of the GFJTU, introduced a new phase titled "Union Modernization Inspired by the Royal Vision." Key highlights included:
Developing a strategic plan running through 2027 to modernize union tools.
Expanding collective labor agreements to improve working conditions and job stability.
A Landmark Decision: Allocating a 20% quota for women and youth in union leadership positions, to be implemented starting the next union cycle.
Industry Perspectives
Fathi Al-Jaghbir, Chairman of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, noted that the industrial sector employs over 271,000 workers across 18,000 facilities. He emphasized that industrial workers contribute to producing over 2,500 national products exported to 150 markets worldwide, accounting for nearly 40% of new jobs created in the private sector.
International Support
Dr. Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for Arab States, congratulated Jordan on the launch of the Decent Work Program. She noted that over the past years, the ILO, in cooperation with Jordanian partners, has provided over 41,000 decent job opportunities and integrated more than 13,000 people into the labor market.
Conclusion of the Event
The ceremony concluded with the honoring of several male and female workers from various sectors, as well as national companies and supporters of the federation. The Minister of Labor was also presented with a commemorative shield in recognition of the Ministry's efforts in protecting workers' rights.
