Amman, Aug. 25 (Petra)– Minister of Transport and Minister of Labor
Nidal Al-Qatamin has instructed the Labor Ministry’s inspection
directorate to develop a comprehensive plan to strengthen oversight
of the labor market and ensure private-sector establishments comply
with requirements to provide workplace nurseries or approved
alternatives when they are unable to establish them.

The plan will also verify employers’ compliance with legally mandated
employment quotas for persons with disabilities.

Al-Qatamin stressed that the plan should initially focus on guidance
and awareness for employers across various economic sectors and
activities in all governorates. This will include holding awareness
workshops in cooperation with chambers of industry and commerce and
representatives of other economic sectors to familiarize employers
with legal requirements concerning workplace nurseries, alternative
arrangements, and the employment of persons with disabilities.

In a ministry statement issued Tuesday, Al-Qatamin said the purpose
of the plan is not to impose penalties or issue violations, but
rather to raise employers’ awareness of the provisions of the Labor
Law and promote a safe and attractive working environment for
private-sector employees, particularly women and persons with
disabilities.

He underscored the importance of awareness and guidance before
resorting to issuing violations against non-compliant establishments,
instructing inspection teams to complete the awareness and advisory
phase before moving to intensified inspection campaigns and taking
legal action against establishments that fail to comply with the law.

Under Article 72(A) of the Labor Law, an employer who employs workers
at a single workplace and whose employees have at least 15 children
aged no more than five years must provide a suitable facility staffed
by one or more caregivers to look after the children. The same
article allows employers to jointly establish such a facility within
a shared geographic area.

Under the 2023 Instructions on Alternatives to Workplace Nurseries,
issued pursuant to Article 72(B) of the Labor Law, employers unable
to establish a suitable facility for the care of employees’ children
are required to provide alternative arrangements in accordance with
the instructions.

Regarding the employment of persons with disabilities, Article 13 of
the Labor Law requires employers to employ persons with disabilities
at the rate specified under the applicable Law on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities.

Article 25(E) of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
stipulates that, without prejudice to the educational or professional
qualifications required for a job or position, governmental and
non-governmental entities employing between 25 and 50 workers and
employees must employ at least one person with a disability. Where
the number of workers and employees exceeds 50, such entities must
allocate up to 4 percent of their vacancies to persons with
disabilities, in accordance with regulations set by the Ministry of
Labor.

//Petra// MF