Amman, July 15 (Petra) – Social Security Corporation (SSC) Director General Hazim Rahahleh said on Wednesday his institution is keen on partnership with the private sector as it seeks to achieve a balance between maintaining a sustainable social security system and supporting businesses to face economic and regional challenges.

He told a meeting with the commercial and service sectors at the Amman Chamber of Commerce that the SSC's Board of Directors recently endorsed "a package of exceptional facilities" for the tourism sector and related activities.

These include installment payments for outstanding obligations at a 1% interest rate, with the possibility of postponing the start of repayments until April of next year according to certain criteria, to help businesses overcome current circumstances and retain their employees, said Rahahleh.

The privileges, he said, came after studying challenges facing the tourism sector and engaging in dialogue with relevant stakeholders.

The corporation will address the condition of each establishment individually and come up with solutions within existing regulations in a manner that meets the interests of employers, protects the rights of insured individuals, and guarantees the sustainability of social security funds.

Rahahleh said the corporation monitors the conditions of various economic sectors, and that any decision to grant exceptional privileges to other sectors is based on objective assessment of the extent of damage in coordination with relevant government entities.

He said the next phase will focus on expanding social security coverage and that the corporation will start sending notices to establishments with workers holding work permits who are not covered by social security, based on the electronic link with the Labor Ministry.

For his part, Amman Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Khalil Hajj Tawfiq urged expansion of social security privileges to include other commercial and service sectors affected by regional crises, adding that the repercussions of the war were not limited to tourism, which, nevertheless, was hardest hit.

Tawfiq said commerce chambers and employers' associations have provided the government with data and indicators on the extent of damage incurred by various economic sectors, including shrinking sales and reduced commercial activity, which took a toll on many businesses.

//Petra//SS