373,000 work permits issued to Syrians since 2016 — Labour Ministry

AMMAN — Syrian labourers have been issued approximately 373,000 work permits since 2016, the Ministry of Labour’s spokesperson, Mohammad Al Zyoud, revealed on Monday.

Syrian workers are only allowed to work and obtain work permits in specific professions open to non-Jordanian employees, according to Al Mamlaka TV.

To regulate the labour market and provide opportunities for Jordanians, the Ministry of Labour has reserved multiple professions exclusively for Jordanian workers, which include technical, professional, office-related, sales, maintenance and vehicle repair careers, among others, Zyoud said.

In certain cases, employers are permitted to hire non-Jordanians with specialised skills, provided that a JD2,200 permit fee is paid.

Non-Jordanians can be hired for jobs in bakeries, the industrial and agriculture sectors and the construction industry. They are also permitted to take on roles involving loading and unloading goods.

Currently, there are approximately 300,000 active work permits for employees of all non-Jordanian nationalities, Zyoud mentioned.

Since the start of the crisis in Syria in 2011, Jordan has hosted over 1.3 million Syrians, including around 660,000 Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Following a decision from the Prime Ministry, Syrian labourers have been exempted from permit fees since 2016. The decision was made in accordance with the Kingdom’s commitment to the Jordan Compact following the 2016 London Conference.

Ministry teams actively conduct inspections to ensure that employers in various industries are operating in compliance with the labour law, which includes maintaining valid work permits and employing workers within permit-designated roles, Zyoud said.