Jordan is intensifying efforts to expand economic opportunities for women through strengthened labour legislation, enhanced social protection, and targeted employment programmes, highlighted during the three-day national conference “Towards a Fair and Inclusive Agenda for Women.” The event brought together government authorities, employer and worker representatives, and experts in international labour standards and women’s labour-market inclusion. In his opening remarks, Minister of Labour Khaled Al-Bakar emphasized the pivotal role of women in Jordan’s development, noting strong support from His Majesty King Abdullah II, Crown Prince Hussein, and Queen Rania, which has helped advance women’s presence across political, economic, and legislative spheres. He highlighted Jordan’s progress, including a rise to 18th place in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index and an increase in women’s economic participation from 13.5 per cent in 2023 to 14.8 per cent in 2024.
The conference underscored government initiatives to promote women’s labour-market participation, including reforms under the Economic Modernization Vision, amendments to the Labour Law and Social Security Law, and regulations developed by the Ministry of Labour. Programmes such as the National Employment Program, the Royal-initiated productive branches project, vocational training led by the Vocational Training Corporation, and financial facilities from the Development and Employment Fund were highlighted as key measures supporting women’s economic engagement. Minister of Social Development Wafa’ Bani Mustafa stressed Jordan’s commitment to human rights and women’s empowerment through legislative reforms combating violence and discrimination, including constitutional amendments guaranteeing equal opportunities and protection from all forms of violence.
GFJTU President Khaled Al-Fanatsa noted the conference as a pivotal opportunity to reaffirm women’s role in economic and social development, emphasizing that empowering women is essential for sustaining growth, enhancing productivity, and promoting fairness in the workplace. The forum focused on four key areas aligned with international labour standards and national labour-market needs: legislative reforms to the Labour and Social Security Laws, promoting equality in wages and employment, protection from workplace violence and harassment, and advancing the care economy to support working women. ILO Country Coordinator Amal Mowafy highlighted the importance of institutional dialogue and partnerships, noting that recent legislative and social protection reforms are transforming labour relations across Jordan.
Vice-President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Mohammad Al-Jitan, highlighted the growing presence of women in ownership, management, and decision-making, citing around 1,500 women owning or co-owning industrial companies. He emphasized women’s high productivity and lower turnover compared to men and pointed to successful initiatives such as the productive branches project, which has created over 10,000 job opportunities in underprivileged areas, with women representing over 90 per cent of participants. The conference is part of the project “Strengthening Unions for a More Inclusive and Gender-Equal World of Work,” implemented by GFJTU in partnership with the ILO’s Decent Work for Women Programme in Jordan, with support from Norway’s Equality@Work project, reflecting Jordan’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality in the workplace.
