Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Jordan (Ratification: 1958)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Compulsory nature of prison work. The Committee recalls that section 8(c) of Act No. 9 of 2004 on Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centres provides that prisoners have no obligation to work, unless they are sentenced to hard labour or if the work is carried out for training purposes. Moreover, section 32 provides that the High Committee of Prisons and Rehabilitation is responsible for the adoption of rules concerning the training and work programs of the detainees. The Committee notes that according to the information available on the website of the Rehabilitation and Correction Centres Department, 18 modern rehabilitation centres have been established with productive workshops enabling these centres to carry out their correctional role.

The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the rules concerning training and work programmes have been adopted by the High Committee of Prisons and Rehabilitation and, if so, to provide a copy. It also requests the Government to indicate whether work undertaken under such programmes is voluntary and, if so, the manner in which the prisoners give their consent to work.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

The Committee previously noted that, pursuant to sections 8(c), 21(a) and 32(c) of Act No. 9 of 2004 on reformatory and rehabilitation centres, prisoners have no obligation to work, if they are not sentenced to hard labour and if the work is not carried out for training purposes in accordance with the programmes adopted by the High Rehabilitation Committee. The Committee also noted the Government’s repeated indication in its reports that prisoners in reformatory and rehabilitation centres perform work of their choice upon request submitted to the authorities. The Committee notes once again the Government’s indication in its report that no regulations have been promulgated by virtue of section 42 of Act No. 9 of 2004 referred to above.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee previously noted that, pursuant to sections 8(c), 21(a) and 32(c) of Act No. 9 of 2004 on reformatory and rehabilitation centres, prisoners have no obligation to work, if they are not sentenced to hard labour and if the work is not carried out for training purposes in accordance with the programmes adopted by the High Rehabilitation Committee. The Committee also noted the Government’s repeated indication in its reports that prisoners in reformatory and rehabilitation centres perform work of their choice upon request submitted to the authorities. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that no regulations have been promulgated by virtue of section 42 of Act No. 9 of 2004 referred to above.

Referring also to its comments addressed to the Government under Convention No. 29, likewise ratified by Jordan, the Committee hopes that the Government will supply a copy of Regulations issued under section 42 of the Act, as soon as such Regulations are adopted.

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

The Committee previously noted that, pursuant to sections 8(c), 21(a) and 32(c) of Act No. 9 of 2004 on Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centres, prisoners have no obligation to work, if they are not sentenced to hard labour and if the work is not carried out for training purposes in accordance with the programmes adopted by the High Rehabilitation Committee. The Committee also noted the Government’s repeated indication in its reports that prisoners in reformatory and rehabilitation centres perform work of their choice upon request submitted to the authorities. Having noted the Government’s indication in its latest report that no regulations have been promulgated by virtue of Act No. 9 of 2004 referred to above, the Committee would appreciate it if the Government would supply a copy of regulations issued under section 42 of the Act, as soon as such regulations are adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

Further to its earlier comments, the Committee has noted the adoption of Act No. 9 of 2004 on Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centres, which has repealed the Prison Act No. 23 of 1953, as amended (section 44). The Committee notes that, as follows from sections 8(c), 21(a) and 32(c) of the Act, prisoners have no obligation to work, if they are not sentenced to hard labour and if the work is not carried out for training purposes in accordance with the programmes adopted by the High Rehabilitation Committee. The Government confirms its previous indication that prisoners in reformatory and rehabilitation centres perform work of their choice upon request submitted to the authorities. Referring also to its comments addressed to the Government under Convention No. 29, likewise ratified by Jordan, the Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of regulations adopted under section 42 of Act No. 9 of 2004 referred to above.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Further to its earlier comments, the Committee has noted with interest the adoption of Act No. 9 of 2004 on Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centres, which has repealed the Prison Act No. 23 of 1953, as amended (section 44). The Committee notes that, as follows from sections 8(c), 21(a) and 32(c) of the Act, prisoners have no obligation to work, if they are not sentenced to hard labour and if the work is not carried out for training purposes in accordance with the programmes adopted by the High Rehabilitation Committee. The Government confirms its previous indication that prisoners in reformatory and rehabilitation centres perform work of their choice upon request submitted to the authorities. Referring also to its comments addressed to the Government under Convention No. 29, likewise ratified by Jordan, the Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of regulations adopted under section 42 of Act No. 9 of 2004 referred to above.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments. It notes, in particular, the provisions of the Law on Publications and Publishing, No. 8 of 1998, supplied by the Government.

The Committee has previously noted that, since the revocation of martial law in 1991, the Political Parties Act, 1992 (No. 32), and the Press and Publications Act, 1993 (No. 10), have been adopted, and that they contain provisions which could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association being enforced with penalties of imprisonment. It has noted the Government’s repeated statement that, even where prisoners are sentenced to penalties of imprisonment involving an obligation to work, the penalty of imprisonment is applied in practice without an obligation to work, since Jordanian prisons are not equipped for this. The Government reaffirms that the majority of prisons in Jordan have been converted into "rehabilitation centres". It indicates that no prisoner is allowed to work until he/she submits a request to the director of the prison establishment indicating his/her interest in working in one of the occupations provided by the prison for rehabilitation; the work of such a prisoner inside the prison establishment is remunerated.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the draft Rehabilitation Centres Act, to which reference has been made in its previous reports and which is intended to supersede the Prisons Act, 1953 (No. 33), has not yet gone through the various phases of its promulgation. The Committee expresses firm hope that statutory effect will soon be given to the practice whereby no compulsory labour is imposed on persons imprisoned for activities coming within the scope of the present Convention. It asks the Government to supply a copy of the Rehabilitation Centres Act as soon as it is promulgated.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments. It would be grateful if the Government would supply, with its next report, a copy of the Law on Publications and Publishing, No. 8 of 1998, to which reference has been made in its report.

The Committee has previously noted that, since the revocation of martial law in 1991, the Political Parties Act, 1992 (No. 32), and the Press and Publications Act, 1993 (No. 10), have been adopted, and that they contain provisions which could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association being enforced with penalties of imprisonment. It has noted the Government's repeated statement that, even where prisoners are sentenced to penalties of imprisonment involving an obligation to work, the penalty of imprisonment is applied in practice without an obligation to work, since Jordanian prisons are not equipped for this. The Government reaffirms that forced labour is not used in practice and that prisons in Jordan have been converted into "rehabilitation centres". It also confirms its previous indication that the draft Rehabilitation Centres Act, which is intended to supersede the Prisons Act, 1953 (No. 33), is currently under study by the competent authorities and will be promulgated as soon as the necessary constitutional procedures have been completed.

Referring to its direct request of 1998 under Convention No. 29, the Committee trusts that the Government will soon be in a position to give statutory effect to the practice whereby no compulsory labour is imposed on persons imprisoned for activities coming within the scope of the present Convention. It reiterates its request to the Government to supply a copy of the Rehabilitation Centres Act, as soon as it is promulgated.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee has taken note of the information provided by the Government in its 1995 and 1997 reports. It has noted that, since the revocation of martial law in 1991, the Political Parties Act, 1992 (No. 32), and the Press and Publications Act, 1993 (No. 10), have been adopted, and that they contain provisions which could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association.

The Government indicated previously that, even where prisoners are sentenced to penalties of imprisonment involving an obligation to work, the penalty of imprisonment is applied in practice without an obligation to work, since Jordanian prisons are not equipped for this. The Government states that forced labour is not used in practice and that prisons in Jordan have been converted into "rehabilitation centres": this measure will have legal effect as soon as the constitutional procedures have been completed to promulgate the draft Rehabilitation Centres Act, which will supersede the Prisons Act, 1953 (No. 33).

With reference to its direct request of 1997 under Convention No. 29, the Committee trusts the Government will soon be in a position to give statutory effect to the practice whereby no compulsory labour is imposed on persons imprisoned for activities coming within the scope of the present Convention. It requests the Government to supply a copy of the Rehabilitation Centres Act, as soon as it is promulgated.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

In its earlier comments, the Committee has noted that on 9 January 1984, section 73 of the Constitution was amended so as to make possible the return to parliamentary life, and asked the Government to supply information on any measures remaining in force that had been adopted under the state of emergency and could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the right to strike which were enforceable by the military courts with penalties of imprisonment (involving the obligation to work) by virtue of section 16 of the Ordinance of 5 June 1967 on the state of emergency.

The Committee noted the Government's reports, received in October 1988 and October 1989, and the information provided by the Ministry of the Interior to the effect that even where prisoners are sentenced to penalties of imprisonment involving an obligation to work, in practice, the penalty of imprisonment is applied without an obligation to work, since Jordanian prisons (called correction and readaptation centres) are not equipped for this.

The Committee expresses once again its hope that the Government will be in a position to give statutory effect to the practice that no compulsory labour is imposed on persons punished for activities coming within the scope of the Convention, and that it will supply copies of any instruments adopted to this effect. Pending such action, the Committee again requests the Government to supply information on any measures adopted under the state of emergency that are still in force which could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the right to strike, enforceable with penalties of imprisonment involving the obligation to work.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters:

In its earlier comments, the Committee has noted that on 9 January 1984, section 73 of the Constitution was amended so as to make possible the return to parliamentary life, and asked the Government to supply information on any measures remaining in force that had been adopted under the state of emergency and could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the right to strike which were enforceable by the military courts with penalties of imprisonment (involving the obligation to work) by virtue of section 16 of the Ordinance of 5 June 1967 on the state of emergency.

The Committee noted the Government's reports, received in October 1988 and October 1989, and the information provided by the Ministry of the Interior to the effect that even where prisoners are sentenced to penalties of imprisonment involving an obligation to work, in practice, the penalty of imprisonment is applied without an obligation to work, since Jordanian prisons (called correction and readaptation centres) are not equipped for this.

The Committee expresses once again its hope that the Government will be in a position to give statutory effect to the practice that no compulsory labour is imposed on persons punished for activities coming within the scope of the Convention, and that it will supply copies of any instruments adopted to this effect. Pending such action, the Committee again requests the Government to supply information on any measures adopted under the state of emergency that are still in force which could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the right to strike, enforceable with penalties of imprisonment involving the obligation to work.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

In its earlier comments, the Committee has noted that on 9 January 1984, section 73 of the Constitution was amended so as to make possible the return to parliamentary life, and asked the Government to supply information on any measures remaining in force that had been adopted under the state of emergency and could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the right to strike which were enforceable by the military courts with penalties of imprisonment (involving the obligation to work) by virtue of section 16 of the Ordinance of 5 June 1967 on the state of emergency.

The Committee notes the Government's recent reports, received in October 1988 and October 1989. It notes with interest the information provided by the Ministry of the Interior to the effect that even where prisoners are sentenced to penalties of imprisonment involving an obligation to work, in practice, the penalty of imprisonment is applied without an obligation to work, since Jordanian prisons (called correction and readaptation centres) are not equipped for this.

The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to give statutory effect to the practice that no compulsory labour is imposed on persons punished for activities coming within the scope of the Convention, and that it will supply copies of any instruments adopted to this effect. Pending such action, the Committee again requests the Government to supply information on any measures adopted under the state of emergency that are still in force which could lead to restrictions on the freedoms of opinion, expression and association and the right to strike, enforceable with penalties of imprisonment involving the obligation to work.