Jordan Watch : Government stuttering in response to NLC report

Many Jordanian bloggers were fast to document and comment on the stormy New York-based National Labour Committee’s (NLC) report on violations of foreign workers’ rights in Jordan. Among the bloggers posting on the issue were Tololy, Khalaf, Natasha, Khader, moi, and some expats bloggers including Amanda

The government's reaction has been stuttering. The Minister of labor made a crucial mistake when he took the side of the factories with a statement published in local newspapers saying that what was published in the report is not accurate. This statement was premature since the results of the investigations were not released yet. The Jordan Times published a follow-up story today in which it quoted the Minister saying that "investigation showed that 13 of the 25 factories listed in the report were applying local and international labour standards". He did not comment on the remaining 8 factories.

On the other hand, Chairman of the Jordan Garments, Accessories and Textiles Exporters’ Association Mohammad Turk told The Jordan Times that three factories listed in the NLC report have been shut down — Crystal, Topaz and Shahed in Irbid’s Prince Hassan Industrial Estate.

In addition the Minister of labour said that the ministry and the Foreign Textile Manufacturing Association were preparing “a binding code of conduct document to ensure that employers maintain decent working standards and conditions.” Asian diplomats from China, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia participated in the inspection campaign.

It was noteworthy to read that the head of the Jordanian union for textile workers fathallah Alomrani said that the information mentioned in the report is true and he has many evidence of the bad treatment. Meanwhile, the society for foreign investors in the QIZ warned all its members to adhere to national and international labour laws or leave the QIZs.

I do not know to how extent the NIC report was accurate, but it has been very useful in exposing this trend which will now be highly scrutinized. It is a shame why we always take moral responsibilities for our mistakes only after being exposed by an international report that threatens the credibility of the country. I think one of the main measures to be taken is to develop more stringent monitoring on the working conditions in the QIZs and not allow for another insult to the reputation of Jordan.