Ammon News -

 Minister of Labor and Minister of State for Investment Affairs, Maen Qatamin, decided to increase the number of Jordanians workers in some sectors and various economic activities in exchange for granting work permits to non-Jordanian workers, which will contribute to providing 18,000 job opportunities for Jordanians in various fields during next period.

"The decision aims to boost job opportunities for Jordanians in the private sector, and comes as a continuation of efforts and plans to regulate the labor market, including the replacement of non-Jordanian workers with qualified and trained Jordanian workers to reduce the high unemployment rates and disallow non-Jordanian workers to practice professions that Jordanians are interested in," Qatamin said Tuesday in a statement.

He explained that the decision came after reviewing the decision of the permissible, closed and restricted professions and the specialized skills of non-Jordanian workers, and after consultation and partnership with some representatives of various economic outlets in the private sector.

He indicated that all professions in Jordan are closed and restricted to Jordanians, with the exception of 193 professions that non-Jordanian workers are allowed to pursue within specific principles and controls.

The minister pointed out that reviewing the decision on closed professions and sectors allowed, for example, the renewal of non-Jordanian workers in the profession of "barber" provided that the employer commits to and undertakes in writing to employ a Jordanian within 6 months from the date of renewing the permit and bring the non-Jordanian worker a profession practice certificate, and in case of non-compliance, the issuance or renewal of work permits for this establishment shall be suspended.

He added that the ministry is working on regulating the labor market to facilitate the work of local, Arab and foreign investments, as well as controlling violating non-Jordanian workers, and providing more job opportunities for Jordanians in the private sector.