60% of 2,000 sample disagrees with granting social security to foreigners

AMMAN — Around 60 per cent of Social Security Corporation›s subscribers disagree with its regulations that do not differentiate between non-Jordanian and Jordanian subscribers, according to the results of an SSC poll.

The surveyed sample of 2,000 visitors to the corporation’s website said they do not agree with the corporation’s policies governing social security coverage, as well as the insurance and retirement rights that are based on insurance coverage.

Commenting on the results of the poll issued on Tuesday, SSC Media Director Musa Sbeihi described the outcomes as “alarming”.

He said the majority of respondents suggest excluding non-Jordanian subscribers from SSC insurance services altogether, adding that employers and business owners complain about paying a share of the dues of foreign workers.

“That one-sided view is very negative and could lead to a distortion in the labour market,” Sbeihi told The Jordan Times over the phone, explaining that unequal labour rights for citizens and guest workers will increase unemployment among Jordanians, as hiring guest workers will be more economic for employers.

Sbeihi noted that covering foreigners under social security protects the institution and the employer in cases of work injuries, natural or accidental disability or death.

He cited the story of an Egyptian sanitation worker at the Greater Amman Municipality as an example. The sanitation worker fell and was hit by a compactor while on duty in 2013 and the SSC paid JD345,000 to cover his medical treatment. 

Highlighting social security as a right for all workers regardless of their nationality that is guaranteed in international conventions, Sbeihi criticised “unfair” social security policies in some Arab countries that deny guest workers this right.

He noted that the SSC provides insurance services to guest workers with official permits who help in building the national economy, and non-Jordanian subscribers constitute 13 per cent of the SSC’s 1.124 million subscribers.