Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

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

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2013 in reply to the 2008 direct request. As in its previous report, the Government indicates that the main goal of the National Agenda is to improve the quality of life of Jordanian citizens. It adds that the National Employment Strategy (NES) addresses the policies and programmes aimed at job creation and that its vision is inspired from the National Agenda, but with a bigger focus on creating job opportunities. The NES aims to improve the standards of living of Jordanians through increasing employment, wages, benefits and productivity. The Committee notes that no information was provided on the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP). The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the impact of the National Agenda, the NES and the DWCP and how they 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).

Part III. Migrant workers. The Government indicates that the NES includes a strategy to regulate migrant labour which looks at the sector, the level of required skills, working conditions and environment, and proposed solutions. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report detailed information on migration policy measures taken in relation with Articles 6–9 and 14(3) of the Convention.

Part IV. Remuneration of workers. Advances on wages. In reply to the previous comments on the application of Article 12(2)–(3) of the Convention, the Government refers once again to sections 46 and 47 of the Labour Code. The Committee notes that when there is repayment of advances made by an employer to a worker, each repayment instalment may not exceed 10 per cent of the worker’s wage. It notes, however, that there is not a maximum amount of advances that can be made. The Government indicates in its report that there were two violations reported by the labour inspectorate in 2012 in respect of infringements related to this matter. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report information on any court or administrative decisions covering the abovementioned matters, that is applying sections 46 and 47 of the Labour Code, and ensuring the application of Article 12(2)–(3) of the Convention. Please also continue to include updated information on the number of violations reported by the labour inspectorate.