Jordan Times
Thursday, May 1, 2008
King says labour-concerned
entities should support and empower labourers
AMMAN (Petra) - His Majesty King Abdullah addressed the country’s workforce on
the occasion of Labour Day, which is celebrated worldwide on May 1, stressing
the importance of enhancing their skills to push the development process
forward.
In a letter to General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) President Mazen Maaytah,
the Monarch said all labour-concerned entities should support and empower
labourers in the Kingdom to help them and double their productivity.
In yesterday’s letter, the King said providing quality training to workers and
empowering them, along with Jordan’s geographical position and its international
political and economic ties, are the foundation for enhancing the Kingdom’s
economic competitiveness and attracting global investments which create jobs for
Jordanians.
His Majesty referred to the role of trade unions and the GFTU in investing in
the economic opportunities made available by the promising labour sectors in the
Kingdom.
King Abdullah urged the trade unions, which he described as “sponsors of
expertise” and the “main partner in productivity”, to communicate with employers
and investors in the various sectors “and with those national institutions that
qualify and train the workforce to link training with these sectors’ needs, so
that the qualifications and skills of our youth are enhanced, and that they may
present themselves as skilled and outstanding professional workers in Jordan and
throughout the region”.
Also yesterday, King Abdullah received a letter from Maaytah in which he
stressed the workers’ commitment to develop and enhance productivity.
The GFTU president noted that the Monarch’s directives on making quality
training available for labourers are incentives to all workers to double
productivity and enhance competitiveness.
Maaytah also referred to King Abdullah’s “Decent Housing for Decent Living”
initiative, which seeks to provide homes for low and limited-income citizens at
affordable prices.
Maaytah said the initiative motivates workers towards enhanced productivity.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour Bassem Salem deputised for King Abdullah at a
ceremony yesterday to mark Labour Day, which is a public holiday in the Kingdom.
Following is an official translation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s message to
workers on the occasion of Labour Day 2008:
To the president of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions,
In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate,
Your Excellency Mazen Maaytah, president of the General Federation of Jordanian
Trade Unions, may God keep you,
Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
It is our pleasure to extend to you, on Labour Day, our warmest greetings and
best wishes for continued success and excellence for the homeland’s workers, the
builders of its glory, the men and women who are the champions of our
development.
Among the most important characteristics of the march of progress in our
homeland are the qualities of its labour force: excellence in and enthusiasm for
work, recognition of the importance of loyalty in giving and contributing to
Jordan’s advancement.
Thus, all the institutions concerned with labour and labourers reciprocate
Jordanian labourers’ loyalty and dedication with attention, support and
empowerment, so that labourers would boost their productivity. This is the true
indicator of continuity and sustainability in our national economy’s growth.
The training and empowerment of the Jordanian worker, along with Jordan’s
geographical position and its international political and economic relations,
are the basis for enhancing Jordan’s economic competitiveness, and its ability
to attract international investment that provides proper job opportunities for
Jordanians, men and women.
Here, the role of the Jordanian trade unions and their general federation is
more obvious in making maximum use of what the promising labour sectors provide
in terms of job and economic opportunities, to ensure that our sons and
daughters get the largest share in providing these sectors with trained
qualified labour.
Building on this, we urge our trade unions, those highly qualified institutions
and sponsors of expertise, who are the main partner in productivity, to
communicate with employers and investors in promising sectors, and with those
national institutions that qualify and train the workforce, to link training
with these sectors’ needs, so that the qualifications and skills of our youth
are enhanced, and that they may present themselves as skilled and outstanding
professional workers in Jordan and throughout the region.
The government and our national institutions will continue their relentless work
to ensure that all sectors, foremost of which is the national labour force, are
provided with appropriate benefits such as health insurance, distinguished
education and competent transportation, to empower and protect the national
labour force economically and socially in the face of pressure caused by
fluctuations in the international economy.
We seize this opportunity to express our pride in the pioneering role of the
General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions, especially in the last few years
which witnessed positive economic growth rates and resulted, in part, in a large
number of job opportunities for Jordanian youth. We look forward to your
continued generous giving to enable us to stand up to mounting challenges,
boldly and courageously, and to move forward in our efforts to build Jordan
first and always, now and in the future.
We congratulate you and we congratulate the homeland on Labour Day, the day to
appreciate all Jordanians who work, each in his own capacity, to build a bright
future for our homeland.
May God keep you as an asset for Jordan and a giving strong hand.
May God grant all of us success in the service of our beloved Jordan.
Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.