Ammon News - AMMAN - Nurses working in public hospitals across the Kingdom have objected to a recent decision changing standardised uniforms, claiming that the new design is “inappropriate”, particularly for veiled women.

They said the new uniform, which was issued by the Ministry of Health last month, was not suitable for female nurses and midwives who wear the Islamic dress (hijab) or the face veil (niqab).

The ministry, however, has called on nurses and midwives to receive the new uniforms from public hospitals and medical centres, refuting claims that the garment constitutes inappropriate dress.

The Jordan Nurses and Midwives Association (JNMA) has condemned the decision to change the uniform, maintaining that the Health Ministry should have consulted nurses and midwives before choosing the design.

“Over the last month we have received many letters and phone calls from nurses protesting the decision,” JNMA President Khaled Abu Azizeh told The Jordan Times in a recent phone interview, adding that the new design is “short and kind of revealing, which makes it inappropriate for female nurses who wear the hijab”.

He said the quality of materials used in the new uniforms are “bad”, accusing the Health Ministry of threatening to cut overtime pay of those who refuse to abide by the new dress code.

Ministry of Health Spokesperson Hatem Azruie defended the decision, rejecting as baseless claims made by the nurses and midwives.

He said the new uniform aims to distinguish between different job positions at nursing departments in public hospitals by giving each a specific colour. Previously, all staff nurses wore the same coloured uniform.

“When you enter a hospital, you should be able to distinguish among staff members, and all should be dressed in an appropriate way,” Azruie told The Jordan Times.

A committee was formed at the ministry to decide on the new uniform, he explained, adding that the new design is identical to the one applied in the Kingdom’s military hospitals.

The official pointed out that female nurses and midwives can choose between jackets that extend to either 35 or 55 centimetres below the waist. All women nurses will wear trousers, and not skirts, he noted, claiming that the new uniform is made of thicker, “high-quality” textiles.

“The ministry is aware of social norms and traditions in the country and it took these into consideration when designing the new uniform,” the spokesperson added.

He denied reports that women who refuse to wear the uniform face penalties, but said nurses should abide by the new dress code “as any workplace”.

Many nurses have openly refused to wear the new garment. One example is a woman working at a public hospital in the Zarqa Governorate, northeast of the capital.

“It is impossible for me to abide by the new uniform,” the nurse, who wears the hijab, told The Jordan Times, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The previous uniform allowed her to wear the hijab, she explained, adding that in order to wear the new uniform she will have to put on another blouse underneath to overcome its “transparency”.

Around 18,000 nurses and midwives staff the Kingdom’s hospitals and health centres, according to the JNMA.

(By Thameen Kheetan/ Jordan Times)