Jordan Times
Monday, March 8, 2004
Government weighing an increase in minimum wage
RAMTHA (Petra) — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Halaiqa announced on Sunday that the government intends to raise the minimum wage after completing a study it is carrying out in this regard.He told investors and industrialists at Al Hassan Industrial Estate in Ramtha that any wage increase should take into consideration production costs and enable Jordanian manufacturers to compete in free world markets
Halaiqa stressed that a number of issues and impediments hindering national industries are being worked out especially production inputs and the costs associated with it as well as facilitating the flow of Jordanian goods to international markets. He announced that the Cabinet is reconsidering the prices of filtered gas used in manufacturing.
On the problems faced by the commercial and industrial sectors in the Iraqi market, the deputy prime minister said that “intensive consultations and talks are under way with the authorities in Iraq to reach a formula that guarantees the rights of Jordanian traders and industrialists and ensures a smooth flow of Jordanian goods into the Iraqi market.”
He said that his ministry is working with the Transport Regulatory Commission to operate buses to carry workers to and from the industrial zone.
Halaiqa commended a policy adopted by the Industrial Estates Corporation aimed at attracting and training personnel for the factories functioning in these zones, noting that 1,000 labourers have recently been recruited in the projects after going through rehabilitation courses.
The value of investments in Al Hassan Industrial Estate stands at JD218 million, while 15,000 jobs have been created in the industrial facility.
At the end of the meeting, the deputy prime minister honoured 110 workers employed at the estate.