Government and trade unions sign agreement to grant more work permits to Syrian refugees in Jordan
The Memorandum of Understanding for issuing more work permits for Syrian refugees working in the construction sector was reached with the support and coordination of the ILO.
AMMAN, Jordan (ILO News) – The Ministry of Labour and the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that eases the process of issuing work permits for Syrian refugees in the construction sector. The agreement allows for work permits to be issued through the GFJTU, and stipulates that workers enrol in contributory social security schemes.
The agreement was reached with the support and coordination of the ILO office in Amman, Jordan, through the ILO project “Supporting the Strategic Objective of the London Syria Conference 2016,” which is funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Increasing the number of work permits issued to refugees and enrolling them in social security schemes will help formalize the Syrian workforce and secure better working conditions for them, said Maha Kattaa, ILO Syrian Refugee Crisis Response Coordinator in Jordan.
“Formalizing the Syrian workforce in Jordan has been a goal for both the ILO and the Jordanian government, since the refugee crisis erupted,” said Kattaa. “Our task in this case was not only to identify the challenges refugees face when obtaining work permits, especially in the construction sector which employs a large number of refugees, but also to support the government of Jordan in finding solutions that serve the interests of the government, employers, and Syrian workers.”
Applicants for the new work permits must hold Recognition of Prior Learning certificates, which are obtained through the Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance. The permits are issued for renewable one-year periods.
GFJTU Chairman Mazen Al Maaytah said the development was “another important step towards organizing and formalizing the labour market, in addition to providing a full database on Syrian foreign labour, and regulating the access of refugees to the labour market without jeopardizing work opportunities for Jordanians.”
The development will also benefit employers. The Recognition of Prior Learning Certificate will help employers match job requirements to workers with the right skills, and the enrolment of workers in social security schemes will cover workers in cases of work-related injuries.
The GFJTU and the ILO will work together to construct suitable mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the new provision. One important aspect will be the establishment of GFJTU centres in locations across Jordan. Staff in the centres will follow up on the status of permit applications, assist workers in acquiring the required documents, submit applications to local government offices, and register applicants for Recognition of Prior Learning Certificates. Additionally, a knowledge-sharing campaign will be launched to ensure the dissemination of information between employers and Syrian workers.
The ILO has also been advocating for the government to facilitate access to work and livelihoods for Syrian refugees, through giving them work permits in specified sectors in line with Jordanian labour regulations.
The ILO’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan is part of the agency’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in the country, aimed at reducing Decent Work deficits and strengthening national capacity to mainstream Decent Work in social and social and economic policies.
The agreement was reached with the support and coordination of the ILO office in Amman, Jordan, through the ILO project “Supporting the Strategic Objective of the London Syria Conference 2016,” which is funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Increasing the number of work permits issued to refugees and enrolling them in social security schemes will help formalize the Syrian workforce and secure better working conditions for them, said Maha Kattaa, ILO Syrian Refugee Crisis Response Coordinator in Jordan.
“Formalizing the Syrian workforce in Jordan has been a goal for both the ILO and the Jordanian government, since the refugee crisis erupted,” said Kattaa. “Our task in this case was not only to identify the challenges refugees face when obtaining work permits, especially in the construction sector which employs a large number of refugees, but also to support the government of Jordan in finding solutions that serve the interests of the government, employers, and Syrian workers.”
Applicants for the new work permits must hold Recognition of Prior Learning certificates, which are obtained through the Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance. The permits are issued for renewable one-year periods.
GFJTU Chairman Mazen Al Maaytah said the development was “another important step towards organizing and formalizing the labour market, in addition to providing a full database on Syrian foreign labour, and regulating the access of refugees to the labour market without jeopardizing work opportunities for Jordanians.”
The development will also benefit employers. The Recognition of Prior Learning Certificate will help employers match job requirements to workers with the right skills, and the enrolment of workers in social security schemes will cover workers in cases of work-related injuries.
The GFJTU and the ILO will work together to construct suitable mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the new provision. One important aspect will be the establishment of GFJTU centres in locations across Jordan. Staff in the centres will follow up on the status of permit applications, assist workers in acquiring the required documents, submit applications to local government offices, and register applicants for Recognition of Prior Learning Certificates. Additionally, a knowledge-sharing campaign will be launched to ensure the dissemination of information between employers and Syrian workers.
ILO Syrian Refugee Response
In 2013, the ILO launched a strategy to support Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt. In Jordan, the ILO has been implementing activities to enhance employment opportunities and livelihoods for both communities through numerous initiatives to generate employment in a number of industries.The ILO has also been advocating for the government to facilitate access to work and livelihoods for Syrian refugees, through giving them work permits in specified sectors in line with Jordanian labour regulations.
The ILO’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan is part of the agency’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in the country, aimed at reducing Decent Work deficits and strengthening national capacity to mainstream Decent Work in social and social and economic policies.