Labour committee agrees to raise annual leave to 21 days

Jordan

Published: 2018-02-28 13:59

Last Updated: 2024-03-29 10:18


Labour and Social Development parliamentary committee during the meeting (alqubbahnews)
Labour and Social Development parliamentary committee  during the meeting (alqubbahnews)

The Labour and Social Development parliamentary committee met on Tuesday to discuss proposed amendments to the temporary 2010 Labour Law.

The meeting was chaired by MP Khalid Al Fanatseh, attended by Minister of Labor Samir Murad, representatives of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, and specialists in the field.

The committee agreed to amend annual leave, introduce a two-day paternity leave and penalize gender-based wage discrimination.

Based on the amendments workers annual leave will increase from the current 14 to 21 days. Additionally, those who have been employed by the same employer for more than five years will be permitted a one month leave.

Paternity leave for the private sector will be enshrined in law for the first time in Jordanian legislation. Public servants are allowed a two-day leave and with the amendment fathers employed in the private sector will be extended the same courtesy.

Recently the ILO issued a publication named People’s Voices that shares quotes addressing issues such as women-labour empowerment, wage discrimination and daycare made by members of government, NGOs and labour institutions. Produced under Jordan National Committee for Pay Equity the campaign sheds light on the efforts made by members of civil society that lead to the critical mass needed to initiate legislative change.

The Minister of Social Development, Hala Lattouf is quoted in the document saying “It is unacceptable in this day and age for women to continue to earn less that men for work of equal value, and not be provided with access to daycare services for their children while they are at work”.

Another family-oriented amendment regarded daycare centers provided by employers. The change will allow fathers to also benefit from the service. It will incentivize companies by allowing them to form joint day care centers if there is geographic proximity between them. The organization SADAQA has extensively promoted the right to childcare at the workplace on a national level.