Defence Orders to be reviewed in December

AMMAN — A government source on Sunday revealed that the Defence Orders previously issued under the Defence Law will be reviewed in mid-December to determine if the orders will be maintained or suspended, Al Rai reported.

Repealing Defence Orders follows the end of the coronavirus pandemic, the source noted, stressing that if the World Health Organization (WHO) announces the end of the pandemic, there will be no longer be justification for implementing the Defence Law. 

The law was established in response to the spread of the pandemic that swept the world, he said.

Since the WHO is the body that officially declared the pandemic, the organisation is responsible for announcing its conclusion, the source said.

Most Defence Orders have been repealed, except for those related to debtors’ imprisonment and the termination of workers' contracts.

The application of the Defence Law is in accordance with the provisions of Article 124 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the government take necessary measures to protect public health in the event of exceptional circumstances.

Defence Order No.6 prohibits the termination of workers’ contracts except in specific cases outlined in the Defence Order, according to which any employer who terminated the services of workers for unstipulated reasons is to be fined or imprisoned.

As for Defence Order No. 28, it stipulates that debtor's imprisonment decisions issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 22 of Executive Law No. 25 of 2007 be postponed, provided that the adjudicated sum does not exceed JD100,000.

Imprisonment for issuance of unbalanced cheques was also suspended in cases where the sum does not exceed JD100,000.

All people included in the provisions of the first and second clauses of Defence Order No.28 were also banned from travelling. 

In addition, the government source confirmed that the government does not intend to extend the Estidama Programme, noting that no additional grants will be provided to fund the programme.