400,000 Jordanians unemployed in Kingdom: Labour Minister

AMMAN — The Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC), on Wednesday, held a discussion panel to address the challenges the commerce sector is facing.

Representatives from different Jordanian governates, along with commerce sector representatives, discussed the challenges the sectors are facing and presented some solutions to help revive the commerce sector in the Kingdom.

“We have over 400,000 unemployed Jordanians in the Kingdom,” Labour Minister Nayef Steitieh said during the discussion.

The minister noted that the Kingdom is suffering from elevated levels of unemployment. “Unemployment is a national problem that needs cooperation between the private and public sectors”, the minister noted, adding that “economic growth is the key to solving unemployment”.

“The ministry is developing a vocational training programme, which will provide youth with the skills necessary to work in the industrial, agricultural and commerce sectors”, said the minister, adding that the training will target between 80,000 and 100,000 Jordanian youth.

“The ministry is working on developing work permits valid for two years, in order to ease procedures for employers,” he stated.

During the discussion, Jerash governorate’s representative commented on the inspection process, stating that over 18 entities monitor the trade facilities in the Kingdom and there are increasing numbers of inspectors visiting the trade facilities every day.

“It is for employers’ interest to hire Jordanians and not pay work permit residency fees, but unfortunately Jordanian youth have a very high turn-over rate”, the restaurant representative added.