AMMAN, Jordan – 13 December 2024: Better Work Jordan (BWJ) recently concluded a two-day workshop and retreat for recruited psychologists and assigned mental health focal points from different garment factories across Jordan. The event aimed to strengthen the mental health support network within Jordan’s industrial sector and enhance mechanisms for workers’ mental well-being.
Better Work Jordan’s recent Workers’, Supervisors, and Managers Annual Survey conducted in 2024 highlight that over 44 per cent of garment workers in Jordan report low levels of mental well-being, underscoring the urgent need for workplace mental health initiatives. Better Work Jordan’s primary focus is addressing the systemic issues that can negatively impact workers’ mental health, including gender inequality, low wages, excessive overtime, and poor OSH management. The programme recognizes that improvements in mental health are near insurmountable if these underlying problems are not addressed.
Migrant workers—who make up a significant portion of the workforce, primarily from South and Southeast Asia—face additional hurdles such as language barriers, cultural differences, limited access to resources, and sometimes difficult living conditions in dormitories. Compounding these challenges is a widespread stigma around mental health, prevalent not only among workers but also within top and middle management. This stigma often discourages workers from seeking help due to fears of being labeled as weak or unproductive. Among management, it can result in a lack of support for mental health initiatives, hindering efforts to create an open, inclusive, and supportive workplace environment.
Mental health at the center of decent work
Better Work Jordan launched its mental health project in January 2021 to improve the mental health of garment workers who face physical and psychological stressors. The project focuses on building workers’ resilience against mental health risks, improving factory-level support, and developing accessible mental health referral systems. Its two main approaches include increasing mental health awareness and improving access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, especially for women and migrant workers. Key focus areas of the mental health project are to:
“Factory working conditions can place immense stress on individuals, especially in environments where systemic support for workers’ wellbeing is lacking, and where tools to manage distress is lacking. This often leaves workers feeling isolated and helpless, and in severe cases, it can even lead to tragic outcomes like suicide. The Better Work team has prioritized mental health by equipping mental health focal points with skills to provide psychological first aid, enabling them to support workers during times of distress and help connect them to appropriate mental health services,” said Ayesha, a mental health focal point who participated in the event.
Key outcomes from the workshop and retreat
The workshop served as a platform for mental health focal points to share experiences, identify barriers—such as limited mental health awareness, stigma among workers and management, and limited resources to support workers—and explore tailored solutions. Examples include offering a hotline for workers in their native languages, celebrating the World’s mental health day for all workers to de-stress, and implementing mental health training programs to strengthen support systems in factories.
“Listening to the experiences and feedback of mental health focal points is critical to shaping effective policies and practices that support workers,” said Sundus Al-Derbi, Mental Health Coordinator at Better Work Jordan. “Their input allows us to address real challenges on the ground and ensure that mental health initiatives are adaptive to ensure sustainable and meaningful impact.”
The retreat also emphasized the importance of self-care for mental health focal points. These individuals play a vital role in supporting workers but often face stress and exhaustion themselves. The event provided an opportunity for them to disconnect, recharge, and connect with peers.
“This workshop allows us a rare chance to pause and focus on ourselves. We are often constantly on the move, always prioritizing others’ needs. Here, we can connect with peers from other factories who truly understand the challenges we face in supporting workers’ mental health,” said Nilukshise, a mental health focal point who participated in the event.
The event featured interactive sessions, including an analysis of the mental health project to evaluate its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Participants engaged in discussions on the project’s successes and areas of improvement, followed by a guided mindfulness exercise designed to encourage reflection and relaxation. Recreational activities were also incorporated to promote well-being and strengthen personal and professional connections among participants.
Improving mental health support systems in factories
This initiative aligns with Better Work Jordan’s broader mission to improve workplace mental health as part of its comprehensive approach to supporting factories improving working conditions. By prioritizing the mental health and well-being of workers and those who support them, BWJ aims to:
Better Work Jordan’s mental health project engages a wide range of stakeholders to ensure comprehensive and sustainable solutions. These include the Ministry of Labour, international buyers, trade unions, the Jordan Garments, Accessories & Textiles Exporters’ Association (JGATE), and mental health service providers. This collaboration strengthens factory-level systems, improves accessibility to mental health services, and fosters an inclusive approach to addressing workers’ well-being.
Contact information
For more information on Better Work Jordan’s mental health initiatives, please contact:
Sundus Al-Derbi, Mental Health Coordinator
Email: al-derbi@ilo.org
Phone: +962 7 99786714