21 April 2017.
Amman – Better Work Jordan and the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Amman on April 13 aimed at improving the economic performance of local enterprises while increasing their compliance with the country’s labour law and the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Tareq Abu Qaoud, Programme Manager of Better Work Jordan– a partnership between the United Nation’s ILO and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group – said this will take the already long-established relationship with the JCI to the next level by engaging with exporting manufacturers beyond the garment sector.
“Better Work and the JCI will collaborate closely to build the capacity of employers in the broader industrial sector, sharing the lessons and the successes achieved in Jordan’s garment sector over the previous years and drawing on the ILO’s expertise in providing decent working conditions,” Abu Qaoud said.
The Jordan Chamber of Industry Director General Maher al Mahrouq said the agreement came as a result of continuous cooperation with the Better Work since 2008.
“This agreement is set to enhance the role of companies in the industrial sector while exchanging expertise with the ILO office and its programmes here in Jordan, especially with Better Work,” al Mahrouq said.
Under the agreement, valid for two years, Better Work and the JCI will exchange technical expertise on labour affairs to help develop both the country’s industry as a whole and the individuals companies taking part in the project.
An employee from the JCI will join the Better Work programme for one year to gain expertise on how to enhance productivity among Jordanian workers based on observations from the garment industry satellite factories model, in which branches of large companies are scattered across the country’s rural areas to boost local employment.
The JCI supports national industrial development by contributing to the industrial general policy framework, sponsoring the interests of both industrial and vocational bodies while promoting cooperation between local and international partners.
Better Work has made significant progress in diminishing coercive labour practices internationally and limiting harassment and verbal abuse.
In Jordan, the percentage of workers who reported their passport or documents being held by the factory decreased the longer a firm was enrolled in BWJ. Training of female supervisors in the Kingdom resulted in a 22 per cent increase in productivity. Families started using their salaries for healthcare, pregnancy-related issues and education for children, rather than debt repayment.