ILO News - Jordanian non-governmental organization “SADAQA- towards a friendlier work environment for women” announced their partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Amman on Thursday (April 7), to advance the agenda of women at work in Jordan.

SADAQA is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2011 by a group of working parents who experienced the difficulties of balancing work and life. As a result, they are now advocating for nationwide compliance with Article 72 of the Labour Law, which calls for the provision of daycare in the workplace.

Representatives from the ILO, SADAQA, the Ministry of Labour, and the press Through this partnership, SADAQA will develop a business case for employers on the benefits of establishing daycare facilities in the workplace. They will further promote the establishment of daycare facilities in various workplaces, in particular in private educational institutions. SADAQA will also award companies who have already complied with the law and currently provide more a parent friendly environment for their staff.

This initiative is being funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Amman.

This partnership will give SADAQA a boost to continue to advocate for the full compliance with Article 72 and help companies realize the importance of daycare at the workplace,” said Randa Naffa, co-founder of SAQADA.

Jordan has been a member of the ILO since 1965 and this partnership will complement the continuous work of the ILO in promoting gender equality in Jordan and increasing the participation of women in the labour market.

“Work and life balance is the main reason why women struggle to enter and remain in the labour market. In the absence of well-developed structural social support services offering quality domestic and family care, women struggle to find the balance between two demanding roles,” said Emanuela Pozzan, ILO’s Senior Regional Gender Equality Specialist. “This partnership will work towards addressing the practical needs of working women by promoting childcare solutions in the workplace.”

The event was attended by members of both organizations, government officials, media representatives and activists.