Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Jordan (Ratification: 1966)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in August 2011 in reply to the 2010 observation. The National Agenda (2006–15) and the document “We are all Jordan” of 2007 were combined into a three-year Executive Development Programme (EDP) 2007–09, which was followed by the EDP 2009–12. Promoting employment and training is both a priority and a cross-sectoral issue of the National Agenda and the EDP, to the extent that trade and investment policies, support to new industries and SMEs, and the increase of the private sector competitiveness are expected to stimulate job creation. In November 2010, the Jordan Global Jobs Pact Country Scan Report was prepared in coordination with the ILO and included an overview of the policy responses to the economic and financial crisis, and recommendations on how national policies, including employment policies, can contribute to shaping a fair and sustainable globalization. The Government further reports on labour market developments in line with the National Agenda. The cumulative number of additional jobs created between 2006 and 2009 was faster than that required to achieve the target unemployment rate of 6.3 per cent by 2017. The unemployment rate was reduced from 14.8 per cent in 2005 to 12.9 per cent in 2009 and was expected to be below 10 per cent in 2012. Public sector hiring continued to play an important role in absorbing Jordanian jobseekers. The Government acknowledges that the distribution of development benefits can be improved and investment should be promoted in governorates affected by higher unemployment rates. It also indicates that migrant workers continued to increase in the labour market. The Committee notes the establishment of the National Centre for Employment providing labour market information and job-matching services, as well as active labour market measures to support employment in the private sector, such as through offering incentives to employers for job creation. The Committee further notes that the National Employment Strategy (NES) was endorsed in May 2011. It seeks to address structural employment, calling for policies and programmes to amplify job creation including in the rural areas and governorates, while expanding social protection to all. The Committee also notes that a new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2012–15 has been launched which builds on the results of the Global Jobs Pact Country Scan and the goals outlined in the National Agenda, the EDP and the NES. Promoting decent work opportunities for all workers and strengthening employment policy coherence are among the DWCP priorities. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report detailed information on the impact of the National Employment Strategy, within the framework of the economic and social policy objectives of the National Agenda 2006–15 and the Executive Development Programme 2011–13, in terms of the promotion of full, productive and freely chosen employment. It also invites the Government to provide information on the progress achieved in relation to the employment priorities of the DWCP. The Government is also invited to include updated statistical data on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment.

Coordination of education and training policy with employment policy. The Government indicates that the Employment, Education, Technical and Vocational Training Council has been established in line with the objectives of the National Agenda and is in charge, inter alia, of developing employment and training policies and programmes, and coordinating the relevant bodies. The Council is composed of a fund aimed at supporting employment and training and a Centre for Certification and Quality Control for education and training. The Government further indicates that it has formulated a set of comprehensive vocational programmes aimed at providing trainees with additional skills to increase their employability. The Committee notes that supporting training of Jordanians in the occupations needed by the labour market is one of the objectives of the NES. Moreover, the DWCP 2012–15 seeks to address the mismatch between education supply and labour market demand. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures adopted, including in the context of the DWCP, to enhance the education and training system, and increase the quality and labour market relevance of training courses.

Youth employment. The Committee notes the Government’s information on young graduates participating in diploma and university level courses organized by the Vocational Training Agency in 2009, as well as students enrolled in technical diploma-level courses offered by the Agency in collaboration with Belqaa Applied University/Korean Institute of Technology over a three-year period (2008–11). The Committee notes that unemployment is particularly high among young persons and graduates, being estimated at around 31 per cent at the end of 2011. The DWCP 2012–15 focuses on promoting youth employment through measures such as increasing access of youth to entrepreneurship training opportunities. The Committee invites the Government to supply disaggregated data on young persons obtaining lasting employment following their participation in vocational guidance and vocational training programmes. It also requests the Government to provide information on other initiatives taken in consultation with social partners to increase opportunities for young persons, especially young graduates, to find lasting employment.

Women’s employment. The Committee notes that 96 per cent of young graduates attending training programmes organized by the Vocational Training Agency in 2009 were women (317 persons). Training covered areas such as administrative tasks, information technology, hairdressing and traditional crafts. The Government also refers to training programmes for women implemented by the Vocational Training Agency through agreements for training and employment with the private sector, such as in the field of gold shaping, as well as to a new training project to be started in 2011. The Committee recalls that Jordan faces a very low female participation rate, with 14 per cent of women participating in the labour force. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that women may qualify for productive employment opportunities. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to facilitate the integration of women into productive employment.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that programmes implementing the NES were formulated with the participation of all official partners. The Committee notes that reinforcing social dialogue mechanisms is among the NES priorities. It also notes that capacity development of the social partners and social dialogue platforms are an integral part of the DWCP 2012–15. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report examples of the manner in which the views of the social partners are taken into account in the development, implementation and review of employment policies and programmes. It also requests again the Government to indicate whether consultations have been held with representatives of workers in rural areas and the informal economy.