Working hard in the field of labour

Jordan’s removal this year from the US Department of Labour list of “Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorisation Act” is both recognition of the Kingdom’s efforts to improve its labour situation and bound to give a boost to the country’s garment industry, accused, since 2009, of using forced labour, which has impeded and undermined this sector.

The decision opens the door for increased Jordanian exports to countries hitherto concerned about allegations of employment of forced labour.

It took, of course, quite some effort to improve labour conditions in the country and bring them in line with the International Labour Organisation guidelines.

The country’s labour laws have undergone considerable amendments and upgrading to ensure that they comply with international labour standards, a commitment underlined by the trade minister who promised to “respect labour compliance and build on all our reform achievements in this area to further enhance this sector”.

The most recent DOL report confirmed that the “incidence of forced labour in the production of garments in Jordan has been significantly reduced”.

While this is helpful, it also means that more needs to be done, and there is no doubt that Jordan will work to eliminate all lingering doubts about observing its responsibility to better labour conditions at large and in the garment industry in particular, and make them fully compliant with international standards.

Once this goal is attained, Jordan’s trade imbalance can be expected to redress, as the country will increase exports.

More important is to upgrade Jordan’s overall labour rights in a manner that makes it a regional model.

The Kingdom is a state party to most ILO conventions and will continue to work to end all forms of forced labour.

One way of doing that is by increasing the number of inspections of workplaces and by designing clear rules of employment for domestic helpers who come from several Third World nations.

ILO keeps tab on all countries’ labour laws and practices.

To its merit, Jordan has been able to steadily improve both, to provide workers with all the necessary safeguards.

That is also beneficial to the country’s image and trade, so it is a happy win-win case.