JEPCO striking employees, administration reach compromise

AMMAN — The Labour Ministry on Tuesday managed to resolve the dispute between the Electricity Workers Union (EWU) and the Jordanian Electric Power Company (JEPCO), ending a work stoppage that began last Wednesday.

Mediation efforts led by Abdullah Jbour, head of work relations at the ministry, helped the two sides reach a compromise, with the 1,300 striking employees scheduled to return to work on Wednesday morning, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Under the agreement, JEPCO will increase its employees’ cost of living allowance by JD45, to make it JD85. The strikers had demanded a JD50 increase.

The employees’ transport allowance will be raised by JD10, while another JD10 will be added to their actual service allowance.

JEPCO will also increase its contribution to the employees’ fund by 3 per cent, to become 13 per cent, according to Petra.

In addition, employees with university degrees will be given a raise based on their specialty.

Annual raises will be linked to employees’ evaluation reports, while all administrative and transport supervisors will be awarded a raise under the agreement.

Meanwhile, a committee was formed to study the employees’ end of service compensation and housing demands, and to provide recommendations to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties before the end of the year, Petra reported.

The employees had demanded a full month’s salary as an end-of-service compensation for every year of employment, according to the EWU. 

A source at JEPCO told The Jordan Times in previous remarks that the end of service compensation would cost the company JD2.5 million.

The strike did not cause disruptions in the power supply, but subscribers were unable to pay their bills.

JEPCO distributes electricity to around 3 million subscribers in the cities of Amman, Zarqa, Salt and Madaba.