The International Labour Organization (ILO) convened a one-day technical workshop bringing together key actors in the social protection sector in Jordan, including government and national institution representatives and independent experts, to present new, policy-relevant findings from the ILO's Labour Supply Microsimulation Model for Jordan.
The workshop introduced insights and results from the analysis made on the interaction between social protection and labour market policies, analysing labour market structures and household characteristics that influence workers' decisions to enter the labour market or transition between informal and formal employment. The analysis quantifies how the structure of social protection benefits influences these decisions, as well as other key formalization tools and strategies.
"It is our pleasure to continue collaboration with national partners to advance policy coherence and inclusive social protection reforms in Jordan. This workshop builds on the discussion around modelling labour supply incentives and their role in expanding social protection coverage and promoting formal employment, in support of the Government's efforts to facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy," said ILO Social Protection Officer Rana Al-Ansari.
© ILO/Ala'a Sukhni
During the discussion, participants highlighted barriers that contribute to low female participation, including unpaid care responsibilities, limited access to quality employment, and the higher likelihood of entering informal work. The discussion highlighted the importance of aligning labour market, social protection and tax policies so that workers and enterprises are offered clear and consistent incentives.
The workshop concluded with a dialogue on how modelling tools can support evidence-based policymaking and help Jordan advance the National Social Protection Strategy 2025-2033.
The ILO continues to work closely with national partners to refine the modelling approach and explore practical policy options that promote participation, productivity, and inclusive growth in Jordan's labour market.
This workshop is part of the ILO's Estidama++ programme, which supports efforts to expand social protection through contribution subsidies and to strengthen evidence-based analysis and policy recommendations in Jordan. Estidama++ is a multi-donor initiative with contributions from Norway, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
