Amman, July 22 (Petra) -- Secretary-General of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) Nadhir Awamleh and International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Coordinator in Jordan Amal Mowafy discussed mechanisms to strengthen cooperation and partnership in labor policy development, support social dialogue, and promote decent work principles in the Kingdom.
Awamleh stressed the importance of cooperation with the ILO as a key partner in supporting national efforts to develop Jordan’s labor market framework. He highlighted the Council’s role in preparing studies, analytical papers, and evidence-based recommendations for relevant stakeholders to support public policy development.
He said the Council’s Labor Policies Committee plays an important role in studying labor market issues, analyzing employment and unemployment challenges, reviewing related legislation and policies, and strengthening dialogue among the different parties involved in the labor market, while balancing economic needs, workers’ rights, and employers’ requirements.
Mowafy highlighted the importance of cooperation with the Economic and Social Council, noting its role as a national platform for dialogue on economic and social issues. She affirmed the ILO’s readiness to strengthen the partnership and provide technical support and international expertise in labor policies and skills development.
The two sides discussed future cooperation within the framework of the National Decent Work Programme 2026–2027, which includes projects related to supporting exports to the European Union, the garment sector, a just transition related to climate change, green jobs, workers in the education and health sectors, domestic workers, and employees in the informal sector, which represents more than 50 percent of the labor market, in addition to the ILO’s "Mata" project.
The projects focus on developing labor policies, sectoral monitoring, assessing skills needs, and building institutional capacities to improve the alignment between education and training outcomes and labor market requirements.
The meeting also covered potential joint initiatives, including preparing policy papers and specialized studies on employment and decent work, organizing dialogue sessions involving government representatives, employers, and workers, and exchanging expertise and data to support evidence-based policymaking.
The two sides agreed to hold a meeting with members of the Labor Policies Committee at the Economic and Social Council to introduce the objectives and areas of the National Decent Work Programme 2026–2027, discuss cooperation priorities, and establish a framework for future partnership between the Council and the ILO to support the development of Jordan’s labor market and sustainable economic and social development.
//Petra//WH
