Making farms safer: Jordan launches guidelines to protect workers

AMMAN, Jordan – The “Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health in the Agriculture Sector” is out, with practical tools to boost safety, cut risks, and support decent work for Jordan’s agricultural workforce.

The International Labour Organization,under the PROSPECTS partnership, together with the Ministries of Labour and Agriculture, has launched the final Arabic version of the guide. It’s a key step toward safer farms and fairer work in one of Jordan’s most at-risk sectors.

The guide aims to protect agricultural workers, reduce accidents and diseases, and build a stronger safety culture, paving the way for safer, more dignified work for everyone in the field.

It brings Jordanian legislation—covering fair conditions, working hours, leave, maternity protection, juvenile safeguards, and employer duties on safe workplaces and housing—closer in line with international OSH standards.

Developed with both ministries, the guide was tested with training of trainers across Jordan, involving staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Labour inspectors, GTU-WAFI representatives, and the Jordan Agricultural Engineers Association.

After several rounds of fine-tuning, the content was endorsed by the ministries’ technical teams and ILO experts.

With the launch now complete and trainers already prepared, a workplan is being developed to institutionalize the guide and implement field-level training. Targeting farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural workers, these sessions will be delivered through Ministry of Agriculture extension services and Farmer Field Schools, focusing on building the knowledge and skills needed to identify hazards and promote safe working practices.

PROSPECTS is a global partnership, supported by the Kingdome of the Netherlands, that aims to improve the access of host communities and forcibly displaced people to education, social protection and decent work.