"WAEI/WAEIA" Campaign in Jordan promotes a fair, safe, and inclusive work environment

AMMAN (ILO News) – Jordan’s National Committee for Pay Equity launched the third phase of the national “WAEI/WAEIA” campaign that aims to raise awareness of workers’ rights in the private sector. The event was presided over by the Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women, Maha Ali, and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labour, Farouq Al-Hamidi, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, UN Women, the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Maha Ali emphasized the committee’s role in supporting national efforts to enhance women's participation and highlight their essential contribution to sustainable national development. She stated that the commission is proud to participate in the third phase of the "WAEI/WAEIA" campaign, highlighting its importance in educating women workers about key provisions in the Labour Law that facilitate women's entry and retention in the labour market, thereby increasing women's economic participation in alignment with the Royal vision for supporting and empowering women.

© ILO/ Salman Sami

© ILO/ Salman Sami

She stressed that policies, strategies, and legislation aimed at economically empowering women and increasing their participation in various sectors must be accompanied by awareness-raising initiatives. These initiatives ensure that workers understand their rights and employers are aware of their legal obligations, supporting efforts to implement and enforce labour laws effectively.

Farouq Al-Hadidi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Labour, stated: "A work environment free from violations and misconduct can only be achieved through continuous and genuine awareness-raising efforts for workers and employers regarding their respective rights and responsibilities in the production process." He affirmed the Ministry of Labour’s commitment to ensuring private sector establishments comply with labour regulations, thereby providing a safe, healthy, and sustainable workplace that protects workers and enhances business continuity by reducing occupational injuries.

© ILO/ Salman Sami

© ILO/ Salman Sami

The campaign will raise awareness about key amendments introduced in recent years, particularly those related to combating workplace discrimination and harassment, flexible work arrangements in the private sector, working hours for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and nighttime work for persons with disabilities. These efforts contribute to enhancing economic participation and ensuring fair employment conditions.

Khaled Abu Marjoub, Vice President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, stated: "The federation is committed to increasing workers' awareness of their rights and obligations while supporting women in achieving leadership roles within trade unions. To this end, we have launched comprehensive programs that promote female leadership in both the federation’s executive office and the broader labour movement."

Amal Mowafy, Country Coordinator for the International Labour Organization in Jordan, highlighted the organization’s efforts over the past three years under the umbrella of the National Committee for Pay Equity. She noted that the first two phases of the "WAEI/WAEIA" campaign were implemented in close partnership with the Ministry of Labour, the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, the Jordanian National Commission for Women, and other national institutions.

She pointed out that these efforts have led to significant achievements at both national and international levels. She welcomed the inclusion of UN Women and GIZ in the campaign, stating that their participation underscores a shared commitment among national and international organizations to prioritize labour rights and ensure that joint efforts are aligned with this objective.

© ILO/ Salman Sami

© ILO/ Salman Sami

Manal Benkirane, Deputy Representative of UN Women in Jordan, stated: "UN Women believes in the importance of raising awareness of workers’ rights and fostering a fair and sustainable legislative environment through a participatory approach that includes all stakeholders. This ensures the successful implementation of legal reforms that uphold decent work standards."

She emphasized that UN Women supports women's economic empowerment and aligns with national priorities to increase their labour force participation, in line with the Economic Modernization Vision and international labour standards. She added that the launch of this campaign marks a pivotal step in spreading knowledge and inspiring positive social change. By delivering clear messages about labour reforms and how workers can benefit from them, the campaign paves the way for a future where decent work is valued, and equality and dignity are guaranteed for all.

Alexander Mondon, 2030 project manager at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), highlighted that educating workers about flexible work arrangements is essential for addressing employment barriers, particularly for women. He explained that the campaign will spotlight legislative amendments that promote labour market flexibility, including remote work, part-time employment, flexible hours, and compressed workweeks.

The campaign’s partners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the "WAEI/WAEIA” campaign in the coming years to ensure the sustained promotion of workers' rights awareness and the effective implementation of legal reforms that foster a fair and inclusive work environment. The campaign will expand to reach new segments of the labour market, with a particular focus on supporting women and promoting gender equality, in alignment with national goals and international labour standards.

This initiative falls under the activities of the "Equality@Work" project, implemented by the ILO’s Decent Work for Women Programme in Jordan, in partnership with the Government of Norway.