Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Board Chairman of the Jordan Phosphate Mines Co (JPMC) Wasef Azer submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, amid calls from mines' workers for his continuation in his position.

The Mining Workers Union issued a statement on Saturday calling on Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour to turn down Azer's resignation, stressing that Azer enjoys qualification and integrity in his position as JPMC chairman.

"Azer seeks to return the company to the government where the government would become the majority shareholder and chief decision-maker, therefore, we call for his continuation in his post," the statement said.

The Mining Workers Union called on Azer to retract his resignation for "public interest."

The statement noted that Azer had held the position of general manager of JPMC for over ten years and enjoys extensive experience in the field, "his continuation in his post at the company will ensure the continuation of the company's growth and progress," the statement said.

Azer's decision to resign came amidst a high-profile scandal of corruption and fraud allegedly committed by the company's ex-chairman, Walid Kurdi, who is being tried in absentia for corruption charges.

The scandal behind the privatization of the company heads the slogans of pro-reform activists in the past two years calling for economic reform and combatting corruption.