Jordan ‘optimistic’ about London donor conference

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General Guy Ryder on Thursday discussed ways to boost cooperation between Jordan and the ILO through supporting the country's capacities in the different areas of the labour market. 

The Monarch and the ILO official, who is currently visiting the country, discussed possible cooperation in drawing up projects that can support job generation in the country, in a manner that would reduce the level of unemployment and poverty and improve the living standard of citizens. 

Ryder expressed the ILO's commitment to developing its cooperation with the Kingdom in the various areas of labour and employee-related issues, according to a Royal Court statement. 

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and Labour Minister Nidal Katamine attended the meeting. 

At a joint press conference with Ryder later in the day, Labour Minister Nidal  Katamine reiterated Jordan’s stand regarding allowing Syrian refugees to join the workforce.

“We can’t provide job opportunities, except to the Jordanians first,” he said, stressing that “without investments we will not be able to create jobs in Jordan”.

This position is part of a “holistic approach” Jordan has adopted and is expected to present to a donors’ conference in London, slated for February 4.

According to officials, Jordan seeks investments that would generate jobs for communities hosting Syrian refugees, where the infrastructure and labour structures have been strained due to the influx of around 1.5 million (now the figure stands at around 1.3 million) Syrians who sought refuge in the Kingdom over the past five years.

Jordan would then allow a “fraction” of these refugees to legally take jobs.

“We are hoping that the international community will be able to respond to this… We are unhappy with how the international community is responding” to the impact of the crisis on Jordan.

As for Jordan’s needs for the year 2016 to continue providing services to Syrian refugees, the minister said, the amount will be presented at the London conference. However, he said the World Bank announced that Jordan needs $2.6 billion for this year.

However, “we believe there will be a [positive] response”, Katamine told reporters.

For his part, Ryder said: "The particular reason for my visit is to see the circumstances prevailing in Jordan… to try to understand and measure the impact of the fact that Jordan has received a very large number of refugees, particularly from Syria.”

In addition, he sought to “reassess the labour market situation”.

“I have come here before the London conference, which contains a theme on jobs and employment as a part to the response to the refugee crisis. And here lies the challenge to the international community: to provide assistance and support to resources and policies that would better enable Jordan and other countries to meet the challenges” and that would involve the possibility for Syrians to make a living in host countries.

He added: “There are several areas where I believe the international community can help Jordan  to ensure the legitimate employment needs of Jordanian people and also find access for your guests to the labour market. My organisation is trying to play a role to this effort.”

The UN official said that he would have a chance to speak at the London conference and tell donors what he has seen in the country, stressing that the world “has a clear and present interest” in ensuring that Jordan is in a position to receive sufficient support to continue its mission in serving the refugees.