The Ministry of Labour in Jordan, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has launched a three-day national workshop in Amman to accelerate the country’s transition from the informal to the formal economy. The event brought together over 70 representatives from ministries, government institutions, civil society organizations, and social partners to shape a comprehensive national framework for formalisation, with technical support from the ILO.
The workshop’s primary objective is to foster inclusive dialogue around national priorities for transitioning to formality, while also exploring strategies to promote decent work, strengthen social protection systems, and support sustainable economic growth. Labour Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Bakkar emphasized the importance of building a shared understanding of the formal and informal economies, rooted in both international definitions and Jordan’s unique socioeconomic realities.
Dr. Al-Bakkar further outlined the government’s commitment to developing an inclusive roadmap for formalisation, with policies that address the risks of informality while ensuring vulnerable workers are protected. He underscored social protection as a foundational element of this transition, critical to enhancing job security and fostering inclusive development.
Amal Mowafy, Employment Policy Specialist and ILO Country Coordinator in Jordan, reaffirmed the ILO’s support for this initiative, describing it as a key step toward an inclusive and resilient labour market transformation. She also highlighted the workshop’s focus on collaborative research and the use of new ILO methodological tools to assess and manage risks associated with informal work. Jordan is among only two countries globally selected to pilot these tools.
Dr. Tayseer Meqdadi, Assistant Director-General for Technical Affairs at the Department of Statistics, stressed the essential role of reliable data in driving reform. He noted that a deeper statistical understanding of the informal sector will enable the development of evidence-based policies to ensure informal workers can access their rights without compromising their livelihoods.
This workshop is part of broader ILO-supported technical efforts to expand social protection and promote formalisation in Jordan, with financial support from the governments of Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
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