Amman, January 11 (Petra) — The Cabinet approved a series of measures, on Saturday, to support the agricultural sector and improve the public sector’s efficiency.

On agriculture, the Cabinet decided to provide financial support for exports of fresh vegetables and fruits. Air freight will receive 50% of the shipping cost, while sea freight will receive 25% support on the shipping cost.

The export of lemon crops will be supported with a subsidy of JOD50 per ton, for a total of 20,000 tons.

The decision comes amid concerns about the impact of regional conditions and border crossing closures, which have affected exports through land and sea routes.

The high costs of air freight and a surplus of local agricultural production in certain crops, especially during peak seasons, have added to the challenges faced by the sector.

The costs of the government support measures will be covered through the Agricultural Risk Management Fund, as allocated in the national budget.

The initiatives are designed to address marketing bottlenecks and long-standing crises that have diminished the competitiveness of local agricultural products abroad.

By enhancing competitiveness, the government aims to boost exports, generate foreign currency and benefit farmers and exporters through expanded production, which will help provide job opportunities, stimulate agricultural production and reduce farmers’ losses from surplus production.

Lemon export would be the most profitable since the country produces five times its local demand. The decision supports the resumption of vegetable and fruit exports to Syria, with the first shipments leaving the central Al-Arda market after a hiatus due to events in Syria.

Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hneifat said Jordan is ready to supply Syria with agricultural products, especially winter crops from the Jordan Valley and share its expertise in modern farming techniques, including water-saving practices.

Separately, the Cabinet approved the bylaw of formations for ministries, departments and government units for 2024, which has been referred to the Legal Committee for further review.

This bylaw outlines the staffing needs and job allocations for all government entities and includes 7,732 new positions with 3,000 jobs allocated to the Ministry of Education, 2,000 to the Ministry of Health and 2,732 to other ministries and departments.

This draft bylaw is aligned with the Human Resources Management System in the Public Sector Law No. 33 of 2024, particularly concerning job evaluations and appointment methods.

The Cabinet approved an amended version of the Human Resources Management Bylaw for the Public Sector for 2025. The goal is to improve public sector performance and enhance service delivery.

A specialised committee, comprising representatives from the Civil Service and Public Administration Authority and the Public Sector Modernisation Unit, reviewed the Bylaw and consulted stakeholders and experts before presenting the draft amendments to the Administrative Modernization Committee for recommendations.

Key amendments to the bylaw include unifying human resources management laws, improvements to procedural governance and clearer guidelines for leave policies, particularly unpaid leave.

Unpaid leave may be granted for various reasons, such as accompanying a spouse working abroad, studying for academic qualifications or caring for family members.

Specific conditions are set for leave periods, and employees must have at least five years of service in the public sector before being eligible.

The bylaw addresses the redistribution of surplus and shortage of employees, promotes fairness in rewards and performance evaluations and sets clearer rules for secondment and part-time work.

New provisions will also allow for a more transparent grievance process for employees and enhance the governance of recruitment announcements and procedures.

The amended bylaw aims to create a more efficient, fair and transparent public sector while improving the delivery of services. It establishes stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with the system’s provisions.

//Petra// AK
11/01/2025 21:13:29