Jordan is accelerating efforts to widen economic opportunities for women through strengthened labour legislation, expanded social protection and targeted employment programmes, as government authorities and employer and worker representatives convene for three days of high-level dialogue in the "Towards a Fair and Inclusive Agenda for Women" national conference.
The conference was inaugurated by Jordan's Minister of Labour Khaled Al-Bakar, representing Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, and organised by the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The three-day national forum convenes Jordanian tripartite constituents alongside specialists in international labour standards and women's labour-market inclusion.
© ILO/ Sukrat Qahoosh
In his opening remarks, Al-Bakar said that Jordanian women have been a fundamental pillar in the nation's development and progress since the establishment of the Jordanian state.
He highlighted the strong royal support accorded to women by His Majesty King Abdullah II and the active follow-up of Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, as well as the significant attention given by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah to families and women. This support has resulted in tangible gains that have strengthened women's presence in political, economic, and legislative spheres.
Al-Bakar stressed that Jordan has taken practical and notable steps to enhance women's economic participation, improve the work environment, and ensure equal opportunities. Jordan's ranking in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index rose to the 18th place, advancing 14 places compared to 2023. Women's economic participation increased from 13.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 to 14.8 per cent in the same period of 2024.
He outlined several government measures to strengthen women's participation in the labour market, including reforms under the Economic Modernization Vision, amendments to the Labour Law and the Social Security Law, and the development of regulations and instructions by the Ministry of Labour to boost women's economic engagement and protection.
He also pointed to the Ministry's efforts to support women through the National Employment Program, the Royal-initiated productive branches project, vocational training opportunities led by the Vocational Training Corporation, and financial facilities offered by the Development and Employment Fund.
For her part, Minister of Social Development and Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Women's Empowerment, Wafa' Bani Mustafa, affirmed that Jordan is committed to human rights through a holistic approach, with particular focus on women's rights. She noted that significant legislative reforms have been enacted to combat violence and discrimination against women, especially through constitutional amendments. Article 6, paragraph 6 of the Jordanian Constitution now stipulates that the State shall ensure the empowerment of women and support their role in building society, guaranteeing equal opportunities based on justice and fairness, and protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination.
She added that new provisions were introduced in the Labour Law, Social Security Law, and Companies Law to increase women's economic participation. Jordan also issued the Family Protection Law, the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, the Guide for Protecting Women from Violence in Public Life, and the 2024 Social Development Law, which includes a clear provision on fair social protection services.
GFJTU President Khaled Al-Fanatsa emphasized that the conference represents a pivotal opportunity to reaffirm women's role as essential partners in economic and social development, noting that women's empowerment is a national necessity for sustaining growth, improving productivity, and strengthening fairness in the workplace.
He explained that the broad participation of national partners reflects the Federation's belief that women's empowerment is a shared national responsibility. He stressed that the Federation will play an active role in implementing the conference recommendations to achieve more just and inclusive legislation and policies that reflect the aspirations of working women.
Al-Fanatsa noted that the conference will address four key areas closely linked to international labour standards and the needs of the Jordanian labour market:
- Legislative reforms and amendments to the Labour and Social Security Laws;
- Promoting equality in wages, employment, and professions;
- Protection from violence and harassment in the world of work;
- Advancing the care economy to empower working women.
© ILO/ Sukrat Qahoosh
ILO Country Coordinator in Jordan, Amal Mowafy, said that the conference reflects the strength of Jordanian institutions, where government, workers and their representatives, employers, and civil society organizations work together. She noted that the dialogue presented today is the result of years of engagement, including national consultations led by GFJTU with ILO support.
She added that Jordan has made important progress in modernizing labour legislation and expanding social protection, reforms that impact families, workers, and employers across the Kingdom. She explained that the recent amendments to the Labour Law, some of which are still awaiting final approval, aim to enhance fairness and protection.
"With strong leadership and effective partnerships, Jordan is moving confidently toward more inclusive and equitable labour relations", she said. "When dialogue is genuine and evidence-based, positive change becomes not only possible but inevitable".
Vice-President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, Mohammad Al-Jitan, said that there are currently around 1,500 women who own or co-own industrial companies, indicating women's growing presence not only in employment but also in ownership, management, and decision-making. He noted that practical experience inside factories shows that women demonstrate high productivity, discipline, commitment, and job stability. Studies indicate that turnover among female workers is around 15 per cent compared to 25 per cent for male workers.
He added that past initiatives highlight the success of partnerships between government and the industrial sector in empowering women. One such example is the productive branches project, a national success story that has established more than 30 branches in less-privileged areas, currently providing around 10,000 job opportunities, of which women constitute more than 90 per cent.
The conference is held within the activities of the project "Strengthening Unions for a More Inclusive and Gender-Equal World of Work", implemented by GFJTU in partnership with the ILO's Decent Work for Women Programme in Jordan and with support from the "Equality@Work" project funded by the Government of Norway.
