Minister of Labour Nayef Isteitieh: Tashgheel (Employment) program was initiated to reduce employment costs to help create job opportunities for Jordanians

With the presence of Minister of Labour Nayef Isteitieh, Amman Chamber of Industry had organized on Thursday a dialogue session with national industrialists to debate and receive their suggestions to achieve goals of the National Employment Program (Tashgheel) to expedite employment of Jordanian labor force.

During the session attended by President of Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry Fathi Al-Jaghbir and number of industry sector investors of industrial zones, Istietieh noted that the Ministry plans to organize dialogue sessions with sectoral councils to seek solutions for job creation and employment of Jordanians and provide decent work environment.

Minister of Labour Nayef Isteitieh stated that the industrial sector is an important sector and a branch of the national economy. Increase of exports and competitiveness at local labor market shall help create new job opportunities and reduce unemployment rates among high school and university bachelor’s degree graduates.

The Minister added that joint efforts resulted from the Program were in response to the directions of HM King Abdullah II to create jobs for the youth, and in implementation of the instructions of the Prime Minister Dr. Bishr Khasawneh in cooperation with the private sector, the prime job provider for the labor force.

He further noted that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss strengths and weaknesses of the Sector to find appropriate solutions to employ Jordanian workers at the industrial sector. He added that the National Employment Program relies on creation of jobs at the private sector with companies enlisted at the e-platform designed for this purpose.

Isteitieh stressed that launch of the National Employment Program aims to support all sectors, among which is the industrial sector to create jobs for Jordanians in response to directions of HM King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Al-Hussein Ibn Abdallah.

Isteitiehfurther stressed the importance of youth empowerment and qualification and provision of appropriate and convenient work environment to reduce unwillingness of Jordanians to work at different industrial fields. He also stressed the importance of similar meetings with all various fourteen sectoral councils to integrate Jordanians in different industrial fields.

He noted that Ministry of Labour started creation of four new sectoral councils with management of the private sector and supervision of the public sector to integrate as many Jordanian workers as possible. It is possible to have twenty sectoral councils within a year. He added that the Ministry is ready to contract with establishments and factories to train Jordanian workers at production lines to help create qualified job opportunities for national workers, re-activate any vocational training center in cooperation with the private sector, and prepare training programs needed for labor market to avail trained and competent Jordanian workers to replace migrant workers.

The Minister stressed the commitment of the private sector to appoint OHS supervisors to ensure health and safety of workers and employers and provide safe work environment.

The Minister further stressed the advantages of the National Employment Program that cover all economic sectors and activities across the Kingdom. The Program aims to look for new jobs for Jordanians and contribute in reduction of production cost to increase sectors’ competitiveness.

Isteitieh noted that the Program aims to provide long-term jobs depending on jobs offered by the private sector in all governorates and districts of the Kingdom. He added that the Program’s success depends on the private sector which is wholly designed for the sector’s benefit.

From his side, President of Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry Engineer Fathi Al-Jaghbir noted that the industrial sector is the largest sector employer of national labor force in the private sector. Any decision to enhance competitiveness of the sector shall increase its ability for job creation, which in return shall reduce unemployment rate. He noted that chambers of industry support the National Employment Program, and the industrial sector is ready to respond to any government initiative or decision that aims to create new jobs for Jordanians.

Al-Jaghbir stressed that percentage of migrant workers at the industrial sector is almost 9% which is not a big percentage. It is necessary to raise awareness on importance of industrial sector to create new jobs and reduce unemployment among Jordanians.

Several investors looked into the need of labor market for expert local workers such as digital printing, bakery and carton factory workers. It is necessary to avail training staff to avoid recruitment of qualified and competent workers to train local workers which will help make the Program succeeds, create jobs for job seekers, and later have local labor force replacements.