AMMAN, Nov. 15 (Petra) – Amended instructions for attracting and appointing employees in the public sector were published in the Official Gazette last Thursday, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of recruitment processes while reinforcing fairness and equal opportunity in competing for government positions.

Under the new amendments, applicants with approved employment applications in the Service and Public Administration Bureau’s backlog prior to December 2023 will receive up to five additional points–tiered according to graduation year–provided they apply for open-advertisement vacancies and pass both the written exam and personal interview. Added to their combined exam and interview scores, the bonus points grant backlog applicants a competitive edge recognizing their waiting period without guaranteeing appointment or reinstating the old seniority queue system.

The revised framework also standardizes candidate evaluation weights at 80 points for examinations and 20 points for personal interviews. This places primary emphasis on objective competency assessments conducted by the Bureau’s Competency Assessment Center, minimizing human intervention in candidate scoring. Additionally, the rules permit diverse, modern testing tools tailored to specific job requirements to better measure knowledge and skills.

For positions restricted to residents of specific geographic areas, the amendments introduce stricter residency verification mechanisms. In coordination with relevant government entities, the Bureau will establish digital and data-backed controls to verify actual residence–addressing discrepancies between an applicant's real address and the address registered with the Civil Status and Passports Department.

Furthermore, candidates are now permitted to file formal objections regarding whether shortlisted or appointed applicants meet geographic residency requirements based on published lists, enabling the Bureau to investigate and take corrective action to protect local opportunities.

Officials noted the amendments stem from practical feedback and ongoing policy reviews designed to improve public sector hiring transparency and service quality, with the Service and Public Administration Bureau tasked with issuing executive controls and overseeing compliance.

//Petra// AA