Amman, Oct. 16 (Petra) – The General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU), in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), held the first session in a series of discussions this month under the theme "Care Economy: Towards a Fair and Inclusive Future of Work." The session brought together representatives from ministries, official institutions, civil society organizations, and the three production sectors.
According to a GFJTU statement on Thursday, the session aimed to raise awareness of the care economy’s economic and social value, its contribution to sustainable development, and its role in achieving gender equality and promoting decent work conditions. It also focused on strengthening national frameworks to regulate the sector, ensure inclusiveness, reduce disparities between paid and unpaid care work, and encourage equitable sharing of family responsibilities.
The discussions examined the opportunities and challenges within the care economy and included perspectives from the Labor Committees of the Lower House of Parliament and the Senate, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Social Development, the Social Security Corporation, the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the National Council for Family Affairs, trade unions, and civil society organizations engaged in labor rights.
During the session, Hamada Abu Nijmeh, Director General of the Jordanian Center for Labor Rights, presented "Care Economy in Jordan: Challenges, Opportunities, and Alignment with International Labor Standards," highlighting relevant International Labor Organization conventions and national priorities.
The session is part of a series of national dialogues launched by the GFJTU under the Power of Trade Unions for a More Inclusive and Gender-Equal World of Work project, implemented in partnership with the Decent Work for Women Program. The dialogues aim to foster inclusive discussions to identify policy priorities and practical recommendations that support gender equality and decent work for all, and will inform the national conference on women and international labor standards scheduled for next month.
//Petra// AJ
