The Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply and the Minister of Labor, Youssef Al-Shamali, revealed the details and procedures related to the Cabinet’s decision to stop the recruitment of expatriate workers and facilitate their transition between the various economic sectors.

In his interview with the Jordan News Agency (Petra) today, Monday, Al-Shamali stated that he will allow the transfer of non-Jordanian workers to the agricultural sector from any sector or economic activity from which transfer is permitted, and allow the transfer of non-Jordanian workers in the agricultural sector to any new employer in the same sector, in addition to To the transfer of labor from the agricultural sector to any new employer in any other economic sector or activity to which transfer is permitted, with the exception of workers who were recruited after the date of 2/21/2021.

According to the northern minister, employers in the agricultural sector will also be allowed to renew work permits on the same agricultural holding and the same employer for those whose work permits expired before January 1, 2023, regardless of the agricultural holding.
Regarding the construction sector, the northern minister indicated that non-Jordanian workers were allowed to transfer to the construction sector from any sector or economic activity from which transfer is permitted, and allowed to transfer to any new employer in the same sector, and the transfer of non-Jordanian workers in the sector to any new employer in any Another economic sector or activity that is permitted to move to, with the exception of workers who were recruited after 10/9/2021.

With regard to the bakery sector, the minister confirmed that it was allowed for non-Jordanian workers to transfer to the bakery sector from any sector or economic activity from which it is permitted to transfer, and to allow the transfer of workers to any new employer in the same sector, and to allow the transfer of workers also to any new employer in any It is permissible to move to another economic sector or activity, with the exception of workers who were recruited after the date of 2/28/2021.
As for the industrial sector, non-Jordanian workers were allowed to transfer to the industrial sector from any sector or economic activity from which transfer is permitted, transfer to any new employer in the same sector, and transfer to any new employer in any other sector or economic activity to which transfer is permitted. With the exception of workers who were recruited after the date of 6/6/2021.
Regarding the domestic gas distribution facilities and their warehouses, Al-Shamali indicated that non-Jordanian workers were allowed to transfer to the domestic gas distribution facilities and their warehouses from any sector or economic activity from which it is permitted to move, to move to any new employer in the same sector, and to allow the transfer to any new employer. In any other economic sector or activity to which movement is permitted, except for workers who were recruited after 9/13/2021.
As for the facilities of women’s salons and beauty centers, non-Jordanian workers have been allowed to transfer to the facilities of women’s salons and beauty centers from any sector or economic activity from which transfer is permitted, transfer to any new employer in the same sector, and allow transfer to any new employer in any sector Or another economic activity that is permitted to move to, with the exception of workers who were recruited after the date of 11/22/2022.
According to the northern minister, it was allowed for non-Jordanian workers to transfer to tourist hotel facilities, tourist resorts, hotel suites and hotel apartments from any sector or economic activity from which transfer is permitted, and to allow transfer to any new employer in the same sector, and to transfer to any new employer in any sector. Or another economic activity that is permitted to move to, with the exception of workers who were recruited after 1/31/2022.
In the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, it was allowed for non-Jordanian workers to move from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone to work for the same employer or a new employer outside the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, provided that his file is settled with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and in the event that the previous occupation of the worker was one of the professions Those with specialized skills will move to work within the specialized skills professions.

Non-Jordanian domestic workers who have been issued a work permit card by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority have been allowed to move to a homeowner outside the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, provided that a letter from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority is presented stating approval to transfer the worker to work outside the boundaries of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. Ensure that the book has been supplied to the Ministry’s office.
In the clothing and knitwear sector registered with the Ministry of Investment in the development areas, Al-Shamali confirmed that non-Jordanian workers in the clothing and textile sector registered with the Ministry of Investment in the development areas were allowed to move to any of the economic sectors and activities permitted to transfer to, provided that the work permit has expired or been cancelled. Two years or more before, and a clearance from the previous sponsor. If the company is closed and does not operate based on an inspection report, the transfer of non-Jordanian workers shall be without the condition of obtaining a clearance.
He added that he would not allow the non-Jordanian worker to move from the various economic sectors and activities to the clothing and knitwear sector registered with the Ministry of Investment in the development areas.
Regarding the domestic workers sector, the northern minister affirmed that non-Jordanian workers are allowed to transfer to the domestic workers sector (for males only) from any sector or economic activity from which it is permitted to transfer according to the conditions, requirements and work procedures in force in the ministry, and to allow their transfer to any new employer. In the same sector and according to the conditions, requirements and work procedures in force in the Ministry, and moving to any new employer in any sector or economic activity to which transfer is permitted.

While the decision allowed the transfer of non-Jordanian female workers in the domestic sector to the sectors and economic activities that are permitted to move to, provided that the work permit expired or was canceled two or more years ago.

And Al-Shamali indicated that a non-Jordanian worker who has a work permit, with the exception of a work permit for specialized skills, is allowed to move to obtain a daily work permit in the profession of day laborer / agricultural worker, day laborer / construction worker, day laborer / loading and unloading worker, with the exception of those who were recruited according to what is stated in the provisions of (7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) of the decision, and the transfer is allowed for non-Jordanian workers, provided that the transfer is to a new employer in the professions permitted for non-Jordanian workers, permitted under conditions, or restricted, or to a day-to-day permit, and according to the conditions and requirements The work procedures followed in the Ministry, and the non-Jordanian worker obtaining a clearance from the previous employer.

According to Al-Shamali, the conditions also included that the transfer should not be to the Greater Amman Municipality, municipalities, schools, nurseries, kindergartens, universities, colleges, training centers and institutes, or any educational or training entity, indicating that workers who were recruited under special employment or recruitment agreements with employers will not be allowed. By transferring to any other employer.

And he indicated that the transfer of non-Jordanian workers to new employers is according to the numbers of non-Jordanian workers specified in the approved agricultural holdings, or the numbers or ratios of non-Jordanian workers to the approved Jordanian workers for all sectors and economic activities of permitted professions and professions permitted under conditions or restricted professions, and according to the conditions, requirements and work procedures followed. In the Ministry, taking into account the provisions of Clause (11) of the decision.
The non-Jordanian worker is also allowed to move to any new employer in the sectors and activities to which he is permitted to move if the previous employer was a company that was liquidated or written off or a sole proprietorship dissolved or written off without obtaining a clearance from the previous employer.

The decision also included, “It is not allowed for a non-Jordanian worker who has a daily labor permit to move in the profession of day laborer / agricultural worker, day laborer / construction worker, day laborer / loading and unloading worker, to any other economic sector or activity.”

It is also a condition that all non-Jordanian workers who move from one employer to another from the sectors from which the non-Jordanian worker is allowed to move to other sectors are included in the social security after the issuance of the result of the medical examination (decent) and before printing the worker’s work permit, with the exception of non-Jordanian workers. In economic sectors and activities not subject to the Social Security Law.

Al-Shamali stressed that despite any previous decision, the door to recruit non-Jordanian workers is stopped, with the exception of non-Jordanian workers working in the following sectors, workers in the domestic sector, both female and male, with the profession of a house worker / patient companion, workers with specialized skills, and workers in the clothing and textile sector. .

And Al-Shamali indicated that for the purposes of using non-Jordanian labor to work in economic sectors and activities, it was allowed to employ non-Jordanian labor in permitted professions, permitted professions under conditions, restricted professions, and professions with specialized skills in all economic sectors and activities, according to the conditions, requirements and work procedures in force in the Ministry and according to the numbers and percentages specified. For the various economic sectors and activities, with the exception of the Greater Amman Municipality, municipalities, schools, nurseries, kindergartens, universities, colleges, training centers and institutes, or any educational or training entity, and not allowing the employment for the first time for any foreign person if there is a stamp (not authorized to work) on his passport.
And Al-Shamali indicated that this decision is effective from the date of 2/5/2023 for a period of 3 months.