Jordan Times
Thursday, May 12, 2005
'1.3 million jobs need to be
secured for the coming decade'
AMMAN (Petra) — Planners have to secure 1.3 million jobs for Jordanians who will
enter the labour market over the coming decade, a senior official said on
Tuesday.
At a briefing he made at the weekly Cabinet meeting, Royal Court Minister Marwan
Muasher said the high unemployment and poverty levels in the Kingdom are among
the major challenges facing the Steering Committee for the National Agenda,
which he chairs.
The 26-strong panel, which His Majesty King Abdullah formed in February, is
tasked with setting the guidelines for the development process during the coming
decade.
The panel consists of a former prime minister, incumbent and former ministers,
politicians, academics and businesspeople along with experts from the public and
private sectors who give consultations within specialised subcommittees dealing
with the various fields tackled by the steering committee.
A draft National Agenda is expected to be released in September this year.
Muasher told the Cabinet the panel is concerned with accelerating the pace of
reforms in the Kingdom and institutionalising the reforms that target the
political, economic and social aspects of life in Jordan.
He noted that the committee would set the guidelines for policy making, while
the Ministry of Public Sector Reform will draw up detailed plans to achieve the
goals highlighted in the agenda. The plans, which will be forwarded to the
Council of Ministers for endorsement, will also include assessment tools to
measure their progress and success. Citizens will have access to these plans
with all their components to ensure transparency in the process, the minister
said.
The National Agenda committee is tailoring strategies in seven fields, or axes.
They include political development, investment enhancement, labour and
vocational training, financial services and reform, legislation and justice,
social welfare and education and scientific research.