Amman, July 27 (Petra) – The Cabinet on Monday approved the
justifications for a draft amendment to the 2026 Public Sector Human
Resources Management Bylaw and referred it to the Legislation and
Opinion Bureau to complete the legislative process.

The amendments aim to make unpaid leave more flexible while ensuring
continuity of public services and improving human resources planning.

Key changes include reducing the minimum service requirement for
unpaid leave from five years to three and removing the maximum leave
period.

The draft abolishes the requirement for employees to return to work
during the last five years of service to qualify for a pension,
allowing Jordanians working abroad greater flexibility to remain
overseas or return.

For study leave, the draft standardises the maximum unpaid leave
period at five years, whether the employee is studying inside or
outside Jordan, instead of the current two years domestically and
five years abroad.

Employees on unpaid leave will be allowed to contribute voluntarily
to Social Security. The amendments will apply to both current
employees on unpaid leave and those granted leave under the new
bylaw.

Government departments will be able to fill vacancies created by
employees on unpaid leave to maintain service delivery. Employees
wishing to return to work will be required to notify their
departments one year in advance.

The government said the amendments are intended to improve workforce
planning, manage vacancies more effectively and ensure uninterrupted
public services while reflecting practical experience gained from
implementing the current bylaw.

//Petra// AK