'SSC seeks to raise women's economic participation to 27%'

AMMAN — The Social Security Corporation (SSC) said on Monday it will work to increase the ratio of economic participation for Jordanian women to reach 27 per cent by 2025, in accordance with the 2025 vision.

Speaking at a celebration held by the Microfund for Women in Zarqa marking Mother's Day, spokesperson Musa Sbeihi said women's participation in the economy currently stands at 13.2 per cent.

The percentage of female subscribers to the SSC is still small, he added, amounting to 314,000 and comprising no more than 27 per cent of the total 1.155 million subscribers. 

An SSC statement quoted Sbeihi as saying that the corporation has succeeded in raising the percentage from 25 to 27 per cent during the past two years. 

Female retirees, he added, stood at 27,609, comprising 15 per cent of the total 181,000. 

Sbeihi said unemployment among women stands at 22.5 per cent, compared to 10 per cent among men, noting that there would be no real development without actual effective participation by women in the economy. 

Sbeihi added that the SSC "is proud" to have more than 26,000 Jordanian housewives covered by insurance through optional subscription.