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AMMAN — The Ministry of Education on Wednesday proposed a new draft plan aiming to end teachers’ nationwide strike, which concludes its third week Thursday.

The proposal, delivered during a meeting with the Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) at their headquarters on Wednesday, outlines a “new partnership” between the JTA and the Ministry of Education on a number of levels, as well as a plan to improve the living conditions of teachers and rewarding excelling educators, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The ministry’s delegation called on the syndicate during the talks to suspend its strike, consider the proposal and engage in an open dialogue with the government to reach a final solution to the crisis.

For their part, the JTA said in press remarks that although the new proposal tackles the improvement of the pay raise system currently in effect, it “does not meet teachers’ aspirations and demands”.

This is the second proposal the government submits to teachers to defuse a three-week crisis sparked from public school teachers’ open strike to demand a 50-per cent raise, that they say was promised to them five years ago but was never delivered.

The JTA rejected the government’s first proposal, describing it as “vague”, and criticised the proposal’s failure to address or acknowledge teachers’ demands.

AMMAN — Jordan's population reached approximately 10.309 million at the end of 2018, 6.768 million of whom are above age 15 and 3.126 million of whom are women, the Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI) Jordan cited the Department of Statistics (DoS) as reporting on Wednesday. 

SIGI also reported that the population of women above 15 years of age who are active in the labour market only reached 15.4 per cent, while for males it reached 56.4 per cent, meaning that 84.6 per cent of women are economically inactive, compared to 43.6 per cent of men.

The unemployment rate among economically active women and men reached 26.8 per cent and 16.5 per cent respectively by the end of 2018, SIGI reported in a statement, noting that transforming the percentages into figures meant that only 481,000 of the 2.536 million economically active populace were women, of whom 129,000 were unemployed by the end of last year.

Tafileh governorate was ranked first in regards to the rate of unemployment among economically active women in the population, which stood at 40.7 per cent. This was followed by Jerash (35.8 per cent), Ajloun (34.5 per cent), Aqaba (30.8 per cent), Irbid (30.7 per cent), Mafraq (28.7 per cent), Zarqa (28.4 per cent), Maan (25.4 per cent), Madaba (24.4 per cent), Balqaa and the capital (24 per cent each) and Karak (18 per cent). 

As for unemployment among men, Madaba was ranked first at 22.8 per cent, followed by Zarqa and Maan (18.9 per cent each), the capital (17.4 per cent), Balqaa (16.9 per cent), Aqaba (16.3 per cent), Tafileh (16.2 per cent), Mafraq (16 per cent), Jerash (15.2 per cent), Ajloun (15 per cent), Karak (14.4 per cent) and Irbid (12.6 per cent). 

Approximately 146,000 women work in the public sector while 191,000 women work in the private sector, SIGI reported, adding that 1,355 women work in international organisations. 

The institute also noted that now women's work is aimed mainly at stimulating the economy and not on enabling women to achieve economic independence. 

"The goal has shifted in many cases where husbands have started to depend on their wives' income, especially when they themselves are not working," the statement said, adding that those husbands also refrain from helping with house hold chores despite being unemployed.

Therefore, SIGI pointed out, women's economic empowerment does not merely depend on their involvement in the economy but rather extends to giving them the autonomy of freely spending their money for their futures and the futures of their families and children. 

AMMAN — A local survey on Wednesday revealed that 56 per cent of Jordanians oppose the teacher's strike, which has entered its third week, because of its negative effects on the students and their families.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent of those surveyed believe that the teachers deserve the raise they are asking for, citing the teachers' bad economic condition.

The findings were revealed during a press conference that was held by NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions at the King Hussein Business Park in Amman.

Some 100,000 teachers declared a nationwide strike on September 8, as they called on the government to acknowledge and meet their right to a 50-per cent pay raise, which they claimed was promised by a previous government five years ago.

On the other hand, government officials have recently stated that the previous government "never promised the teachers a 50-per cent raise" but pledged their commitment to improving the working conditions and salaries of the teachers by the beginning of 2020.

The survey's findings were made based on interviews with 2,516 individuals over the age of 18 over a two-week period, said NAMA Chairman Fares Braizat.

"This survey aims to provide an empirical understanding of the Jordanian public opinion regarding the teachers' strike and to provide a realistic dialogue that would address all aspects of the problem," Braizat told reporters.

The survey revealed that 90 per cent of the respondents support a solution that involves negotiations between the government and the JTA.

The survey asked the respondents for solutions to end the strike, according to Braizat.

"Around 49 per cent of the respondents suggested giving the teachers financial raises in accordance with the state's budget and to tie the raise with the teachers' career performance," Braizat explained.

23 per cent suggested approving the 50 per cent raise to end the strike, while 10 per cent rejected any raises for the teachers if the government did not have the financial means to do so, he added.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said the teachers' strike "sums up" the situation in Jordan, most notably, the difficult economic conditions facing citizens and the government alike.

The teachers' issue constitutes part of the public sector's woes, the premier said, posing the question: "Will the situation remain the same or are we to create a shift in the public sector, which will not be an easy task and may face a backlash?"

"The government is patient in regards to dialogue for a solution, however, the suspension of students' studies holds everyone responsible — both the government and the Jordan Teachers Association's (JTA) council," Razzaz underlined, adding that out of "a sense of responsibility", the latter must not prolong the strike.

Additionally, the JTA had asked for the government to apologise for the way that the authorities reportedly handled the sit-in they staged in Amman on September 5, during which the association claimed its members were subject to violations.

The association also rejected the government's proposal during a meeting last week, describing it as "vague", and stressed that it tackles none of the teachers' demands.

Meanwhile during the same meeting, the government insisted that their proposal set a "new model" to improve the living and financial conditions of teachers while developing the educational process.

The JTA vowed to continue its strike, claiming that the recent government and previous governments have ignored their demands for too long.

The open strike was announced after the sit-in in Amman on September 5, during which, the JTA claimed, violations were committed against its members.

The Public Security Department denied the allegations but confirmed that 50 teachers were detained during the protest for "illegally forcing their way through to the government's headquarters at Amman's Fourth Circle", which the JTA had designated as the protest's location.

At the time, the government rejected the set location, allowing the teachers to hold their protest near Parliament in Abdali instead; however, teachers were adamant on the original spot, but were blocked from reaching the Fourth Circle.

AMMAN — Prices of Turkish-imported clothes are set to rise in the near future, according to the textile and readymade clothes syndicate.

After senior stakeholders in the clothes sector said that prices will remain stable throughout the winter, it was later announced that the prices of Turkish clothes will go up by at least 20 per cent, in a statement made by President of the Textile and Readymade Clothes Syndicate Muneer Deyeh on Wednesday.

“Clothes imported from Turkey may be the only ones whose prices will increase as the free trade agreement between Turkey and Jordan has been revoked,” Deyeh told The Jordan Times over the phone.

He added: “This is definitely an unpleasant prediction as a large proportion of clothes in the Jordanian market are either from Turkey or China.”

The trade agreement between Jordan and Turkey was ongoing for eight years from 2011 to 2018, until Jordan decided to suspend the agreement because of “unfair competition”.

The move was made, according to officials in the ministry of industry and trade, to “encourage citizens to direct their attention to local products”.

Chinese imports, however, which come in under various ongoing trade agreements between Jordan and China, will not be affected, said Deyeh.

“I doubt that a new trade agreement between Jordan and Turkey will be renewed, as the government would not want to anger local clothes makers, but we do hope that at least the customs charges will be reduced,” said Deyeh

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Trade Yanal Barmawi said that the suspension of the Turkish agreement is “still fresh” and that its “true effects on the market have not been truly tested yet”.

“The sector as a whole is going through a tough time, so we cannot blame its stagnancy on the suspension of the agreement. In fact, the suspension could be doing the local market a favour, but it is hard to tell under these circumstances,” Barmawi said over the phone.

AMMAN — The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday revealed plans set to empower Jordanian IT start-ups and entrepreneurs to access world markets.

Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Muthana Gharaibeh, during a press conference attended by supporters including the World Bank (WB), American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham-Jordan) and the UK Department for International Development, presented the programmes tailored for easing access to the world markets, as well as connecting IT start-ups and entrepreneurs with global financiers and investors.

The ministry is working on implementing the matchmaking programme, supported by the WB and the UK, which is intended to link Jordanian IT start-ups with potential investors, with focuses on the American, British and other European markets, Gharaibeh added.

Implemented by AmCham-Jordan and TECHWADI, the Silicon Valley programme aims to link 25 Jordanian startups with American companies in 2019, according to a ministry statement.   

Chairman of AmCham-Jordan's Board of Directors Mohammed Batayneh said that the chamber, a non-profit body, supports the efforts made to bolster the national economy through promoting Jordanian-American free trade and investments.

Meanwhile, the UK Scale-Up Programme will be implemented throughout the European market in cooperation with UK Tech Hub, with the participation of 25 start-ups that will be selected according to UK and American criteria, Gharaibeh added.

Additionally, a representative from the UK Tech Hub programme said that The Nucleus Ventures will help in accelerating the growth and expansion of IT start-ups.    

Deputy Director of the Department for International Development for the Middle East Laura Bophilos expressed the UK's support for the connecting programmes in the field of information and communications technology, pointing out that underpinning Jordanian entrepreneurs is a commitment of the London Initiative.  

AMMAN — Finance Minister Ezzeddin Kanakrieh has recently said that the government has no intention to increase taxes despite the decrease in tax revenues during this year.

The minister's remarks came during a meeting on Tuesday with the parliamentary Financial Committee of the Lower House on Tuesday. 

Kanakrieh said that the procedures the government has taken were aimed at enhancing growth, combatting tax evasion and rationalising current expenditures.

Kanakrieh added that these procedures, including those related to the real estate sector, have had a considerable impact on increasing tax revenues, the Jordan News Agency Petra, reported. 

The minister said that allocations are put aside for capital projects, citing their importance in improving services and creating job opportunities. 

The minister noted that capital projects not yet implemented are being reviewed so as to either inquire into the possibility of setting them up in partnership with the private sector or to put them on hold according to national priorities.  

Though tax revenues went down last year, the government has no intention of imposing more taxes or increasing exiting ones, he said. 

In a bid to control public spending, Kanakrieh said that several public departments have been merged, adding that the government will go ahead with similar budgetary control procedures. 

Talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are "positive", Kanakrieh said, adding that the IMF understands the challenges facing the national economy.

AMMAN — For the second time in three weeks, a shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes, with excess levels of Radium 226, was returned to its country of origin after arriving at the Kingdom’s border, the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) said on Wednesday.

The shipment seized and sent back by EMRC personnel weighed approximately 26,430kg and consisted of metal pipes of various sizes that, upon inspection, were found to be acutely contaminated with the prohibited substance, EMRC Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari said in a statement by the commission. 

According to Hiyari, the EMRC adheres to a set protocol when testing for radioactive contamination, pointing to the use of paraphernalia, which detect radiation levels and their sources at border entrances and exits.

The EMRC monitors border operations through the operations room located in the monitoring and emergency centre at the commission, Hiyari said, adding that the centre operates around-the-clock to provide technical support and follow up on alerts from vehicles that may have committed violations. 

Hiyari noted that the EMRC, through its legally mandated role, monitors radiation levels to ensure the safety of products that enter, pass through and exit Jordan.

With the help of specialised devices and electronic gates used to detect radiation, the EMRC works to combat the illicit trade of radioactive or nuclear material that could threaten the Kingdom’s security, the statement said. 

The EMRC possesses 66 radiation-detection gates that cover all border crossings, whether aerial, land or maritime. 

In August, the commission seized and sent back a 23,500-kg shipment of radioactively contaminated pipes, the statement added. 

In 2018, three shipments that showed radioactive readings exceeding the acceptable rates were seized and shipped back to their countries of origin, in accordance with protocol. 

The commission also completed 29,107 transactions in 2018 and granted 444 permits for importing, transporting and reexporting radiation devices and radioactive material. This was in addition to the issuing of 872 licenses for institutions working in radiology, and 1,437 personal licenses for workers in the sector, including 45 for workers at the Jordan Research and Training Reactor, according to a 2018 EMRC statement.

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) on Wednesday announced the arrest of 74 individuals in various parts of the Kingdom during the 13th week of its ongoing campaign against illegal firearms and festive firing.

"The arrested suspects, including two minors, were reportedly found in possession of 91 unlicensed firearms," said Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi.

There have been a total of 1,090 suspects arrested since the start of the campaign on June 27, with around 1,280 illegal weapons found, Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

"All the arrested suspects were referred to the concerned authorities for legal prosecution," the police official added.

According to a statement by the PSD, the campaign is ongoing, while the public are urged to report any incident of shooting anonymously. 

The PSD recently renewed its campaign targeting celebratory firing and possession of unlicensed firearms in an effort to curb the phenomenon. Authorities pledged to adopt the "most severe legal and administrative measures possible" against perpetrators of festive firing.

The statement also promised to conduct campaigns throughout the governorates, ready to arrest any person in possession of a firearm without a licence, as well as those selling weapons and ammunition specifically for celebratory firing.

Additionally, the PSD statement thanked the "many citizens who cooperated with the authorities by reporting some illegal festive shootings, which helped the authorities to capture many of the violators", while urging the public to continue to report any illegal festive shooting to the police through their unified number, 911.

AMMAN — Jordan and Lebanon on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding  (MoU) to bolster cooperation in the renewable energy sector and rationalisation of consumption through utilising the Eight-Country Interconnection project.

The memo, signed by Energy Minister Hala Zawati and her Lebanese counterpart Nada Boustani on the sidelines of the International Beirut Energy Forum, entails expertise exchange and allows for the two countries to enter into negotiations on electricity exchange, according to a ministry statement. Zawati, in a press statement following the signing ceremony, expressed the Kingdom's readiness to support Lebanon's electricity needs.

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry is conducting “daily follow-ups” on the arrests of Jordanians Abdulrahman Mari and Hiba Abdul Baqi in Israel, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah said on Wednesday.

The Jordanian consul in Tel Aviv on Wednesday visited Abdul Baqi for the third time at the detention centre, Qudah noted in a Foreign Ministry statement. The Foreign Ministry continues to work on the release of the two citizens and is following up on ongoing investigations through diplomatic channels to guarantee their legal rights, Qudah said, noting that their cases are at the top of the ministry’s priorities.

The Kingdom’s embassy in Tel Aviv is in “constant contact” with the citizens’ attorneys, Qudah said, adding that the consul will be visiting Mari for the second time as soon as possible.