Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - A government ministerial taskforce released on Monday a set of conditions and rules allowing the private sector to resume work amid the weeks-long lockdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The taskforce, which comprises the ministers of labor, industry and trade, and health, said in a statement that private sector entities can now file requests for the resumption of their work, provided that there is a "pressing logistical or economic or health need" for these entities to return to work.

According to the conditions, issued under Defense Order No. 6 of 2020, the applications must first be lodged with the competent minister who, in turn, advises the taskforce on approval or otherwise. Furthermore, the Ministry of Labor will determine the standard operating procedures and health requirements which applicants must adhere to if their requests are approved.

Afterwards, the statement adds, the full application and health safety manual will be forwarded to the National Epidemiological Committee which shall recommend to the taskforce to approve or turn down the application.

The most important criteria for looking into such requests include the following: the applicant's resumption of work is of a pressing logistical or economic or health significance; the approval of the National Epidemiological Committee; the use of minimal staff; and guarantees to adhere to safety measures.

According to the announcement, regulators, including the ministries of health and labor, will run period checks on entities allowed to work to ensure they abide by the set rules and that they have measures in place to prevent any COVID-19 infections.

The failure to adhere to the set rules and conditions after approval will invite a 60-day shutdown of the violating entity. The government taskforce asked employers and entities wishing to resume work to visit the Ministry of Labor's website: http://www.mol.gov.jo/.