Amman, July 22 (Petra) – The Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday approved, by majority vote, the first nine articles of the government-backed 2026 Professional Work Regulation Law, with amendments, as it continued deliberations on legislation aimed at regulating Jordan's vocational and technical labor market.

The approvals came during a session chaired by Speaker Mazen Qadi and attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the Cabinet. Lawmakers approved Articles 1 through 9 of the 17-article bill, while deferring consideration of part of Article 9 to a later session.

The draft law seeks to regulate vocational and technical professions by requiring professional licenses for practitioners, licensing vocational and technical training providers, and accrediting training programs and trainers under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor. It also aims to strengthen oversight of the vocational labor market and improve the quality of vocational training and professional practice.

Among the approved provisions, lawmakers endorsed the establishment of a Vocational and Technical Training and Skills Development Activities Support Fund within the Ministry of Labor to support vocational training, skills development, employment initiatives, and graduates of vocational training programs, while assisting low-income and unemployed individuals, including persons with disabilities. The fund will succeed the existing support fund established under the 2019 Vocational and Technical Skills Development Law.

The Lower House also approved provisions prohibiting vocational and technical training providers from operating without a ministry-issued license and requiring professional licenses to practice professions covered under the law. Amendments adopted by lawmakers will allow individuals with prior experience to sit directly for professional examinations under specified conditions without first completing designated training programs.

The approved articles also authorize the Ministry of Labor to collect fees for issuing and renewing training provider and professional licenses, as well as for administering professional examinations, with the fee structure to be set by regulation.

During the debate, lawmakers said the legislation would help organize the labor market, improve oversight of vocational professions, raise training standards and create more employment opportunities for Jordanians. They also stressed the need to recognize experienced workers by ensuring practical experience is considered alongside formal qualifications and training.

The Cabinet approved the draft law's justifications in January. Under the proposed legislation, the Ministry of Labor will be responsible for licensing, regulating, supervising and evaluating vocational and technical training providers, accrediting training programs and trainers, and overseeing professional examinations and the practice of covered professions to improve workforce quality and labor market governance.

//Petra// AJ