Jordan extends maternity leave to 90 days in new labor law amendments

On Monday, the Jordanian Parliament approved, with a majority vote, the 2024 amendments to the Labor Law, including the extension of maternity leave.

The session, led by Speaker Ahmad Safadi, was attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and government officials.

The session continued the approval of articles 9 to 18, revisiting Article 8, which saw a reversal of a previous decision allowing employers to reduce 5 percent of workers annually.

Article 9: Paid sick leave

The Parliament approved, with a majority, the amendment to Article 65 of the original Labor Law. This change grants workers the right to 14 days of paid sick leave annually, based on a report from a licensed doctor. The leave can be renewed for a similar period if the worker is hospitalized, provided a certified medical report is submitted.

Previously, Article 65 provided 14 days of sick leave annually, which could be extended if the worker was hospitalized in an approved facility, with a condition that establishments with fewer than 20 employees had a special medical committee.

Article 10: Bereavement leave

A new paragraph was added to Article 66 of the original Labor Law, which grants workers paid leave of three days in the event of the death of a first-degree relative. This amendment follows recommendations from the Parliamentary Labor Committee.

Article 11: Extension of maternity leave to 90 days

The Parliament also approved the amendment to Article 70, replacing the term "ten weeks" with "ninety continuous days" for maternity leave. This includes leave before and after childbirth, with a minimum of six weeks following delivery, providing enhanced protection for female workers during pregnancy and maternity.

Article 12: Childcare in the workplace

A revision to paragraph "A" of Article 72 was approved, requiring employers with 15 or more employees who have children under the age of four and a half to provide a suitable space for childcare at no cost. Employers must also hire at least one qualified caregiver. Employers may collaborate to create such spaces in shared geographical locations.

Previously, Article 72 specified the need for a childcare space when there were 15 children, but it limited the age to those under five years old.

Article 13: Amendment regarding occupational diseases

The Parliament also approved an amendment to the title in Chapter 10 of the original Labor Law, removing the phrase "and occupational diseases" from the title. This amendment aligns with other updates to the law.

Article 8: Reversal of 5 percent worker reduction clause

In a significant shift, Article 8 was amended to reverse a previous provision that allowed employers to reduce 5 percent of their workforce annually without approval from the Ministry of Labor. The amendment rejects any layoffs without Ministry consent, reinforcing stronger protections for workers' rights.

The original provision allowed employers to terminate 5 percent of their employees annually due to economic or technical reasons, or if production systems were changed, provided the Ministry of Labor was informed.

Objectives of amendment

The revised Labor Law aims to balance the rights of workers and employers by regulating sick and maternity leaves, expanding protections for female workers, and providing a safer working environment for children of employees. The amendments also seek to protect workers not covered by social security, improve conditions for migrant workers, and ensure their rights are upheld.