Amman, July 22 (Petra) — Secretary-General of the Economic and
Social Council (ESC) Nadhir Awamleh and International Labour
Organization (ILO) Country Coordinator in Jordan Amal Mowafy
discussed mechanisms to strengthen cooperation and partnership in
labor policy development, support social dialogue, and promote decent
work principles in the Kingdom.

Awamleh stressed the importance of cooperation with the ILO as a key
partner in supporting national efforts to develop Jordan’s labor
market framework. He highlighted the Council’s role in preparing
studies, analytical papers, and evidence-based recommendations for
relevant stakeholders to support public policy development.

He said the Council’s Labor Policies Committee plays an important
role in studying labor market issues, analyzing employment and
unemployment challenges, reviewing related legislation and policies,
and strengthening dialogue among the different parties involved in
the labor market, while balancing economic needs, workers’ rights,
and employers’ requirements.

Mowafy highlighted the importance of cooperation with the Economic
and Social Council, noting its role as a national platform for
dialogue on economic and social issues. She affirmed the ILO’s
readiness to strengthen the partnership and provide technical support
and international expertise in labor policies and skills development.

The two sides discussed future cooperation within the framework of
the National Decent Work Programme 2026–2027, which includes projects
related to supporting exports to the European Union, the garment
sector, a just transition related to climate change, green jobs,
workers in the education and health sectors, domestic workers, and
employees in the informal sector, which represents more than 50
percent of the labor market, in addition to the ILO’s “Mata” project.

The projects focus on developing labor policies, sectoral monitoring,
assessing skills needs, and building institutional capacities to
improve the alignment between education and training outcomes and
labor market requirements.

The meeting also covered potential joint initiatives, including
preparing policy papers and specialized studies on employment and
decent work, organizing dialogue sessions involving government
representatives, employers, and workers, and exchanging expertise and
data to support evidence-based policymaking.

The two sides agreed to hold a meeting with members of the Labor
Policies Committee at the Economic and Social Council to introduce
the objectives and areas of the National Decent Work Programme
2026–2027, discuss cooperation priorities, and establish a framework
for future partnership between the Council and the ILO to support the
development of Jordan’s labor market and sustainable economic and
social development.

//Petra//WH