Tafileh protesters demand jobs, investment projects in southern governorate

AMMAN — Members of youth and popular movements on Thursday held a demonstration in Tafileh calling for measures to alleviate unemployment in the southern region by attracting investments in the mining, industrial and tourism sectors.

Unemployment in Tafileh, 180km southwest of Amman and home to around 100,000 people, touched 26 per cent among males and 35 per cent among females, which is the highest in the Kingdom, official statistics show.

The movements underlined the importance of creating jobs in energy and mineral resources industries, including cement, phosphate, carbonate and copper, as well as in the relevant ministries.

Tafileh Governor Hussam Tarawneh said that an official committee will follow up on the demands and needs presented to His Majesty King Abdullah during his visit to the governorate last week, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the King’s visit, residents of the area showcased their demands, which included addressing unemployment and measures to attract investments, and called for better health and infrastructure services.

Supporting women and youth, as well as establishing income-generating projects, topped the list of demands by the notables and residents of Tafileh.

The demands will be implemented in accordance with the available potentials including creating job opportunities for jobseekers as well as encouraging youths to undergo vocational training and enrol in the National Service programme which would help alleviate unemployment rate, Tarawneh elaborated.

The governor met with 30 unemployed youths demanding jobs in public and private sectors.

For his part, the governor stressed that a number of meetings will be held with the energy and contractors associations implementing projects in Tafileh, to explore possible remedies.

Atef Hreishat, director of the Tafileh labour office, said that the labour department periodically announces available jobs.

However, Hreishat underscored, the turnout is below average, particularly among college and university graduates, many of whom seek office jobs in the public sector. He also added that there is a need to attract more investment projects to generate jobs in the region, according to Petra.

Priority in the National Service programme, which will provide vocational training in various fields of industry, construction and tourism for about 20,000 Jordanian youth, will be given to the unemployed youths, Hreishat highlighted.

Vocational institutes frequently hold specialised courses and workshops in the various vocational fields for males and females alike, said Raed Shawabkeh, director of the Tafileh Vocational Institute.

He encouraged youths to enrol in these programmes, noting the workshops’ distinguished rate of graduate employment in various vocational fields, and that the market is in high demand for qualified vocational workers.