Gov’t, House resolve labour issue at fertiliser company

AMMAN — A settlement brokered by the government and the Lower House resulted on Tuesday in ending labour strikes at the Jordan Abyad Fertilisers & Chemicals Company (JAFCCO), after a series of meetings with representatives of the company and the General Union of Mine Workers.

The settlement included an agreement to pay JD2 million as compensations for 225 workers, 55 of whom work at JAFCCO with limited contracts, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The issue dates back to December 2016, when at least 200 workers of JAFCCO protested in front of the Prime Ministry over the lay-off of 75 employees and the three-month-overdue salaries of 386 employees.

Under the reached settlement, the company will pay JD2,500 to each worker with a limited contract it will lay off.

The rest of the money will be distributed to the other employees to be laid off, according to what the union deems suitable depending on the minimum and maximum number of employees to be laid off.

JAFCCO will also have to pay the workers all due salaries until January 31 and honour all their rights stipulated under the Labour Law.

The company has to pay all this money by the end of February, according to Petra.

Labour Minister Ali Ghezawi said the ministry is keen on protecting the rights of workers at all facilities, as well as preserving the rights of investors.

Deputy Khaled Fanatsah, head of the Lower House Labour Committee, said the panel contacted all the concerned parties until reaching a satisfactory settlement.