Amman: Minister of Labor Khaled Bakkar announced that his ministry will promptly grant permits to industrial facilities seeking to hire non-Jordanian workers when local labor is unavailable. This announcement was made during a meeting organized by the Jordan Chamber of Industry.
According to Jordan News Agency, Bakkar stated that starting mid-February, the industrial sector can apply for expatriate labor permits through the chamber. He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that no production line or economic facility is understaffed due to a lack of available Jordanian labor. To address the skills gap, the ministry is collaborating with the private sector to open training academies aimed at providing skilled labor.
Fathi Al-Jaghbeer, President of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, highlighted that the industrial sector prioritizes employing Jordanian workers, with local labor comprising over 90 percent of the workforce. However, he acknowledged the necessity of foreign workers for certain professions and specializations that are less appealing to Jordanians. Al-Jaghbeer also emphasized the need to align educational outcomes with market demands through vocational training and specialized academies to ensure the availability of qualified labor.