Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan has decided to exempt Egyptian workers from exit and re-entry permits starting from January 2017, state news agency MENA reported on Friday.

According to MENA, the Egyptian Manpower Minister Mohamed Saafan received from the Egyptian embassy in Amman a decree from the Jordanian labour ministry regarding procedures related to Egypt’s workforce in Jordan.

The document stipulates that Egyptian workers who have a valid work permit are allowed to leave and return to Jordan at any time before the expiry of their permits.

However, Egyptian labourers working in the agricultural field are not included in the decision, with procedures related to exit and re-entry visa permits remaining in effect, MENA reported.

Thousands of Egyptians have worked in Jordan for years. According to a 2013 interview, a spokesperson from the Jordanian labour ministry said that 400,000 Egyptians work in Jordan, with only 177,000 of them holding work permits.

*Ahram