Head of the Lower House Agriculture, Water and Badia Committee, MP Mohammad Alaqmeh, said government is mulling plans to lower the financial costs of issuing and renewing expat work permits.
The MP’s announcement came during a meeting on Sunday, with Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Hneifat, adding that the House panel discussed issues related to the inclusion of expat workers in the agricultural sector under the Social Security Corporation (SSC)’s umbrella.
The discussions also went over the “high” cost of issuing work permits and levies on production inputs, primarily fertilizers, energy, in addition to the “hefty” fodder prices, the lawmaker pointed out.
Conditions of Jordanian farmers are “no longer assuring,” he said, adding that several challenges and obstacles are facing the agricultural sector and its investors, which requires expediting finding “realistic” solutions to push growth, Alaqmeh said.
The high cost of work permits is a major challenge for the agricultural sector, which requires lowering the fees, adding that the cost was JD120 and was raised earlier to JD550, he noted.
Hneifat, for his part, said the government is “aware of the agricultural sector’s concerns,” affirming Royal directives in this regard aim to advance Jordan’s farming conditions.
Hneifat said instructions will be published soon in the Official Gazette to float production inputs, in addition to an agreement with the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company. (JPMC) to reduce price tag of the fertilizer tonne by $70, down in comparison to prices globally.
Source: Jordan News Agency