Amman, Jordan (ILO News) The Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan, HE Mr. Espen Lindbæck, recently visited the Bab Al Khair Organization for Voluntary Work in Amman to witness the positive impact of the Estidama++ fund program on workers and employers. The Estidama++ program, funded by the governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, aims to extend social security coverage to informal Jordanian and non-Jordanian workers, including refugees, by providing contribution subsidies and coverage rewards.
Commenting on the visit, HE Mr. Lindbæck said: “I am honoured to be here and visit the Bab Al Khair Organization for Voluntary Work and learn about the vital work they do for the local community. It has been inspiring to engage with the dedicated employees of the organization who have benefited directly from the Estidama++ project and to hear how it has improved the employees' lives.”
He added that: “Estidama++ intervention assists refugees and vulnerable workers in Jordan in integrating them into the national social security system. Estidama++ initiative aligns with the priorities of the Norwegian foreign policy, reinforcing our shared dedication to advancing social justice and empowerment worldwide.”
During the visit, the Ambassador was accompanied by representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Social Security Corporation (SSC), and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Amman. Together, they met with workers benefiting from the program, including Jordanian and Syrian workers and Palestinian workers from Gaza who had enrolled in social security through Estidama++, and engaged in a discussion about the significance of the program in promoting social protection for vulnerable workers and positively enhancing the organization's financial stability and job security.
The Bab Al Khair Organization for Voluntary Work, a non-profit organization that supports local communities and those needing health, shelter, and food access, is a beneficiary of the Estidama++ program. The organization is currently benefiting from the contribution subsidies, which cover the social security contributions of ten workers in the SSC.
Maher Algharaib, chairman of the charity organization, welcomed the delegation, emphasizing that the “contribution subsidies had reduced the cost of registration for employers, which is crucial to the organization that faced economically challenging times after COVID-19”. The Operations Manager, Yasmine al Kafrwai, presented highlights from the organization’s projects and charity work. She noted that, “in addition to the contribution subsidies, the workers positively benefitted from the coverage reward of 100 Jordanian dinars (JOD) they receive every three months because it enables them to pay bills and support their families. This, in turn, positively impacted their well-being and sense of security.”
Fernando Martinez, Estidama++ project manager, expressed appreciation of the partnership with Norway and ensuring that workers have access to fundamental human rights, such as social protection. He added: “The visit emphasized the importance of a robust and innovative approach to overcome financial and informational barriers that employers and workers face when enrolling in social security. Together with SSC, the ILO is committed to providing such approach to tackle these challenges through Estidama++.”
The meeting also included discussions with the workers, who highlighted the importance of social security benefits for them and the role of Estidama++ in positively changing their perspective on short and long-term social security benefits. Additionally, the meeting was attended by one of the workers who is enjoying maternity leave from the SSC as part of the insurance benefits facilitated by the program.
Meanwhile, Hussam Saadi from the SSC highlighted that: “we are pleased to witness the impact of the program on micro and small organizations while at the same time strengthening workers' access to social insurance benefits, such as work injury insurance, maternity, and other benefits provided by the SSC.”
Estidama++ Fund was officially launched in June 2022, targeting informal workers who fall through social protection gaps. The fund promotes the registration of workers in two areas: wage workers in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and self-employed workers in key sectors. The SSC manages the Estidama++ Fund with technical support from the ILO, under the framework of the agreement signed by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the ILO, and the SSC.
The Fund is expected to support 34,000 workers to register in social security by offering short-term coverage reward and contribution subsidies, with a specific focus on women and Syrian refugees working in key sectors.
