Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Labour leaders launch internal dialogue
AMMAN (JT) — Labour leaders met on Tuesday to launch an internal dialogue aimed at activating the role of labour unions in comprehensive development, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.About 100 activists from labour unions gathered at a 2-day workshop organised by the Mining Workers Association.
Minister of Labour Amjad Majali, who opened the event, stressed that his ministry is concerned with a more active role for the unions in the development process. He added that discussions the government has held with the unions resulted in positive understanding of the unions' role in achieving sustainable development.
Last week, Prime Minister Faisal Fayez called on professional associations and labour unions to assume their role in easing the economic problems facing the country by investing their assets in socio-economic projects.
The unionists seized the opportunity to remind the government of some of their demands, like financial support for the unions. They expressed their willingness to participate in the upcoming national conference on poverty and unemployment and other similar events at the Arab and international levels.
Khalid Fanatseh, head of the mining association, urged the government to raise the minimum wage to JD120 from the current JD85 and increase the allowances of pensioners among the Social Security Corporation subscribers. He also reiterated a demand to abolish the controversial Article 31 of the Labour Law, and to establish a health insurance system for retired laborers.
The government made changes to the said article in 2002, which were welcomed by local workers and human rights organisations.
The article originally stated that when restructuring a company or factory, an employer needs only notify the Labour Ministry in the event of terminating unlimited-period [open-ended] work contracts or suspending them.
According to the amendment, the ministry has the authority to form a committee representing the employer(s), the employee(s) and the government to discuss such restructuring and then decide whether the employer has the right to lay off any employees.