Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 22, 2006
Ministry downgrades factory for violating workers’ rights
By Khalid Neimat
AMMAN — A garment factory in Al Dulayl Industrial Park in Zarqa has been downgraded from the Labour Ministry’s “Golden List” for violating labour standards, a ministry source said on Saturday.
The source said the aim of this list was to motivate employers in the QIZs to adhere to a “decent working” environment and encourage them to treat their employees according to the country’s Labour Law and international labour standards.
A report issued last week by the Labour Ministry said 141 labourers had complained about the Rainbow Textile Factory management’s treatment of workers, claiming “the factory’s management delayed salaries and other overtime payments.”
In protest, worker’s at the factory staged a strike earlier this month demanding an end to routine and severe physical beatings, mandatory 15-hour shifts without overtime pay and continued confiscation of guest workers’ passports.
According to Labour Minister Bassem Salem, the government prevented an attempt by the factory’s owner to deport 10 workers who participated in the strike.
The “Golden List” lays out strict criteria for factories to adhere to, including working hours, overtime pay, holidays, vacations and working conditions, said the source.
“In order to be part of the ‘Golden List,’ a factory must achieve over 80 per cent of the requirements,” the source said.
If a factory’s rate falls below 50 per cent, it is required to pay a one-year bank guarantee of JD500 for each foreign worker, the Labour Ministry report said.
There are currently 13 QIZs housing over 50 factories. The zones employ more than 30,000 foreign workers, representing 65 per cent of the total labour force.
QIZ factories produce garments for export to the US Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , among other the US’ owned retail giants. Jordan’s exports to the US totalled $1.3 billion in 2005.