Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Jordan (Ratification: 1963)

1. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2008 in reply to the direct request of 2005. The Committee observes that the principal objective of the National Reform Agenda, adopted in November 2005, is to improve the quality of life of Jordanian nationals through the creation of income-generating opportunities, the improvement of living standards and guaranteeing social protection. It also notes the objectives of the ILO Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in Jordan for the period 2006–09. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which the National Reform Agenda and the DWCP have contributed to “the improvement of standards of living” which shall be regarded “as the principal objective in the planning of economic development” (Article 2 of the Convention).

2. Part IV. Remuneration of workers. In reply to the previous comments on the application of Article 12, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Convention, the Government refers once again to the Labour Code of 1996 which, in section 46(1), provides that an employer may not make any deduction from wages that is not authorized by the Labour Code. In accordance with section 47(1) of the Labour Code, the employer may only make deductions from wages in respect of advances made by the employer where such deductions do not exceed one tenth of the amount of the wages. The Committee recalls that to give full effect to Article 12 of the Convention, the Government has to take measures to limit the amount of advances which may be made to a worker in consideration of his taking up employment and to clearly explain to the worker the amount of advances permitted (Article 12, paragraph 2), and make legally irrecoverable any advance in excess of the amount laid down by the competent authority and prevent this advance from being recovered by the withholding of amounts of pay due to the worker at a later date (Article 12, paragraph 3). Please provide updated information on any measure adopted to give full effect to Article 12 of the Convention.