Amman – A research report issued by the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies under the Jordanian Labor Watch Program called for legislative reforms and comprehensive economic and social policies to strengthen women’s economic justice in the Jordanian labor market and address the structural challenges limiting women’s economic participation. The report was released on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is observed annually on March 8.
اضافة اعلان
The report pointed to a clear gap between the official discourse on women’s empowerment and the reality of women’s economic participation. It emphasized that women’s limited integration into the labor market is not only linked to social and cultural factors but is also closely related to the structure of economic policies and the social protection system in Jordan.
The report also noted that these challenges are further exacerbated by the complex regional context. Continued instability in the region—driven by the occupation of Palestine and the wars carried out by the Israeli occupying state with the support of its Western allies—has contributed to a difficult political and economic environment that hinders development opportunities in the region. The report explained that these conditions increase economic and social pressures on neighboring countries, including Jordan, which negatively affects labor markets and prospects for sustainable development, particularly impacting the most vulnerable groups, especially women.
The report highlighted that statistical indicators continue to reflect weak economic participation among women. Women’s participation in the labor market remains significantly lower than that of men, while unemployment rates among women remain high. The gender wage gap persists in several sectors, in addition to the low percentage of women covered by social security, reflecting the wide prevalence of women’s work in the informal economy.
According to the report, these indicators are associated with a set of interconnected challenges, most notably weak social protection systems and the spread of social security evasion in certain sectors employing women. Other challenges include wage disparities and discrimination in the workplace, risks of violence and harassment at work, and the double burden women face in balancing paid employment and family care responsibilities amid insufficient supportive infrastructure such as childcare facilities and public transportation.
The report also highlighted emerging challenges linked to new forms of work, including platform-based work and home-based employment. Many women working in these fields do so without clear contracts or social protection, exposing them to risks of economic exploitation and unstable income.
To address these challenges, the report presented a set of policy recommendations and alternative measures aimed at enhancing women’s economic participation and ensuring a more equitable and safe working environment. It called for reviewing the Social Security Law and its related regulations to expand social protection coverage to include vulnerable groups of women workers, such as those in the agricultural sector, domestic work, and digital platform-based employment. It also recommended strengthening the sustainability of maternity insurance and linking it to institutional childcare support mechanisms.
The report further urged the Senate to expedite the approval of amendments to the Labor Law already passed by the House of Representatives, which include extending maternity leave and strengthening legal protections for women workers. It also stressed the need to introduce a clear definition of gender-based violence in labor legislation, including sexual harassment and digital violence in the workplace.
In addition, the report emphasized the importance of ratifying International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work and aligning national legislation with its provisions to ensure a workplace environment free from violence and discrimination.
On the economic front, the report stressed the need to develop gender-responsive economic policies that focus on creating decent job opportunities for women and improving wage levels. It also called for strengthening public transportation systems and expanding institutional and government-supported childcare services at workplaces to support working mothers and enable them to remain in the labor market.
The report also recommended strengthening the supervisory role of the Ministry of Labour and the Social Security Corporation to combat social security evasion and violations affecting women workers. It further called for building partnerships between the government and civil society organizations to monitor the conditions of women workers, particularly in informal sectors.
The report concluded by emphasizing that achieving women’s economic justice in Jordan requires moving beyond rhetoric toward concrete policies. It stressed that women’s economic empowerment is not only a matter of rights but also a fundamental pillar for promoting economic growth, social stability, and sustainable development in Jordan.
