Government Greenlights Key Reforms in Agricultural Workers’ Rights and Energy Infrastructure.

Amman: In a significant move to align with the economic modernization vision, the Jordanian government, led by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, has approved several strategic decisions aimed at modernizing the public sector and boosting the economy. Among the key resolutions is the endorsement of a draft regulation to amend the Agricultural Workers Law for 2024, which seeks to expand social security benefits and job opportunities within the agricultural sector. According to Jordan News Agency, the proposed amendments are designed to include all agricultural workers under the protections of the Social Security Law. This encompasses equal access to social security participation, annual and sick leave, maternity leave, weekly vacation, regulated working hours, and overtime allowance calculations. The regulation emphasizes non-discrimination and seeks to ensure rights are upheld regardless of the number of workers an employer hires. The amendments aim to significantly increase the number of agricultural workers pa rticipating in social security. Since the introduction of the Agricultural Workers Law in 2021, there has been a tripling of participants, rising from 6,259 to 18,155 workers. The new regulations are expected to further boost this number, reinforcing the sector's appeal to Jordanian labor and aiding in unemployment reduction. In addition to enhancing social justice by securing social protection for all agricultural workers, the amendments also ensure equitable compensation for work injuries. The changes empower the Ministry of Agriculture to better regulate the sector, fostering an environment conducive to economic growth and stability. In parallel, the cabinet has also sanctioned the electrification of the fish farming project in Jafr, Ma'an Governorate. This initiative, part of the broader productive branches initiative launched in 2008 under royal directives, aims to establish a pioneering unit for breeding and propagating aquatic organisms. The project is expected to produce high-quality fish, create nu merous local jobs, and significantly contribute to the region's economic development.