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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Ministry of Labor on Tuesday denied claims made in a report by ImpACT International for Human Rights Policies on an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in a garment factory in the Qualified Industrial Zone in the Al Dulayl, affirming that the report is incorrect.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry pointed to a set of preventive and remedial procedures and measures against the virus that the factory implemented, such as periodic sterilization of all its facilities and accommodations for migrant workers.

The factory, it added, contracted a private company 3 months ago to sterilize the factory and the workers' accommodations twice a week, in addition to the sterilization carried out by the occupational health and safety staff in the factory 3 days a week.

It said that the factory has a special cadre approved by the ministry for occupational safety and health, in addition to a medical staff present onsite that is also approved by the ministry in accordance with the regulations and instructions issued under the Labor Law.

The ministry explained that it had contacted the factory’s administration, which confirmed that it was conducting random periodic tests on workers after the end of the full lockdown, to maintain workers’ health and safety.

The statement said that the factory conducted 750 tests on September 9, all of which came back negative for the COVID-19, noting that another test, which was conducted 3 days later on 56 workers, came back negative. On September 22, the factory conducted 550 random tests, of which 18 samples came back positive for the virus. After 4 days, the number of infection rose to 52 cases. On September 27, the factory conducted a comprehensive test for all workers.

In accordance with the procedures of the Health Ministry’s epidemiological investigation teams, 260 people were transferred to a quarantine facility in the Dead Sea, while the rest were placed in separate private housing to protect the factory workers from the risk of infection, the statement added.

On measures taken at the factory, the ministry underscored that the Al Dulayl-based factory is monitored with cameras through the operations and control room in its main building, which is subject to the supervision of the cadre of labor inspectors, safety and occupational health, adding that the inspection teams make periodic visits to all factories to ensure commitment to occupational health and safety measures and Defense Order No. (11).

The International Labor Organization's Better Work project coordinates with the Ministry of Labor regularly to ensure that the factories in the Qualified Industrial Zone and in the development zones comply with occupational health and safety standards, the ministry added.

The Better Work project team confirmed the factories ’commitment to periodic sterilization procedures, in a report issued on September 30, adding that the factories’ procedures included providing places to isolate those infected with the Coronavirus, providing them with meals and providing mobile groceries to meet their daily needs.

As for the Jordanian and Syrian workers at the factory, they have been temporarily suspended from work due to the emergence of COVID-19 cases in their areas of residence to curb the spread of the virus in their workplaces, however, the factory is committed to pay their wages according to defense orders and reports issued pursuant to them.