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The instructions and Procedures for Employing Syrian Workers for the Year 2020

The Official Gazette:    (4828)

The Instructions for the Conditions and Procedures for the Employment of Non-Jordanian Workers of Syrian Nationality for the year 2020.

Issued in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (A) of Article (12) of the Labor Law and its Amendments No. 8 of the Year 1996.

Article (1): These instructions are called (Instructions for Conditions and Procedures for the Employment of Non-Jordanian Workers of Syrian Nationality for the year 2020.) And it is valid as of the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article (2): The following words and expressions wherever they appear in these instructions will have the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context indicates otherwise:

Ministry: Ministry of Labor.

Minister: Minister of Labor. 

The Directorate: The Directorate of Labor or Labor Office in the various governorates of the Kingdom.

Worker: Every non-Jordanian male or female of Syrian nationality holding a service document for the Syrian community issued by the Ministry of Interior.

Professions permitted for other than Jordanians: The profession that belongs to the group of permissible professions for non-Jordanian workers, including professions restricted with conditions where non-Jordanian workers are permitted to work within the sector or economic activity specified by the Ministry. 

Work permit: An official document issued by the Ministry to the worker according to these instructions. It allows the worker to work for a specific employer and within one of the professions permitted for non-Jordanians. The period of the permit is one year, subject to renewal, and its period is calculated upon renewal from the expiration date of the last work permit obtained by the worker. 

Work permit:  It is an official document issued by the Ministry to the worker and it allows him to work at the site for any employer or any entity that implements a wage project for work or intensive employment projects or other projects within the professions permitted for non-Jordanians.

 The Official Gazette:    (4829)

Flexible Work Permit: An official document issued by the Ministry to the worker allowing him to work for any employer in the professions permitted to non-Jordanians within any of the economic sectors or activities without being restricted to a specific geographical area. It is issued under the umbrella of any of the cooperative societies approved by the Ministry, or the General Union for Jordanian trade unions or any other body specified by the Minister. 

The Camp: The place designated to accommodate the Syrian refugees on the territory of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Article (3):

  1. These instructions shall be applied to workers, provided the following:  
  2. That the worker has obtained the service document for the Syrian community issued by the Ministry of Interior.
  3. That the profession for which a work permit is required is among the occupations permitted for non-Jordanian workers.
  4.  The Ministry issues work permits of the following types:
  5. Work permit. 
  6. Temporary work permit
  7. Flexible work permit. 

Article (4):

The start date of the work permit for a worker who obtains a work permit for the first time within the types stipulated in Paragraph (B) of Article (3) of these instructions shall be approved as of any of the following dates:

  1. The date of the worker’s entry into the Kingdom which is stamped on the service document for the Syrian community.
  2. The date of the Directorate’s approval of granting a work permit to the worker in the event that the date of entry of the worker into the Kingdom is not specified according to proof of residency and borders. 

Article (5):

The Ministry shall issue a work permit in accordance with the following provisions:

  1.  A worker who obtains a work permit may transfer from an employer to another employer within any sector or economic activity and within the professions permitted to non-Jordanians without requesting a clearance, provided that the work permit does not expire or is not canceled from the previous employer or his authorized representative.

The Official Gazette:    (4830)

  • The work permit may be for a period of one year, renewable for a similar period. Its period is calculated upon renewal from the expiration date of the last work permit obtained by the worker in accordance with the instructions, principles and decisions in force in the Ministry.

Article (6):

The Ministry issues a temporary work permit according to the following provisions: 

  1. A worker who has obtained a temporary work permit may transfer to another employer within any other economic sector or activity without requesting a clearance, provided that the temporary work permit expires, and provided that the profession is within the professions permitted to non-Jordanians. 
  2. The period of the temporary work permit shall not exceed six months, subject to renewal, and its period shall be calculated upon renewal from the date of the expiration of the period of the last work permit obtained by the worker in accordance with the instructions and decisions in force in the Ministry.
  3. Taking into account the rates decided for non-Jordanian workers for various sectors or economic activities, the employer or entity may be exempted from those rates for the purpose of obtaining a temporary work permit to implement the wage-for-work project, the intensive labor project, or other projects specified by the Minister. This may be done provided that the employer or the entity provides the Ministry’s center with a social security statement to verify its commitment to the employment rates of Jordanians in these projects. 
  4. The following expressions are included on the temporary work permit card:
  5. Where the phrase (the employer): insert the name of the employer / the name of the entity.
  6. Where the phrase (profession): list the profession in which he is authorized to work. 
  7. Where the phrase (notes): insert the phrase (temporary work permit). 
  8. Where the phrase (governorate): insert the phrase (all governorates except the Aqaba Special Economic Zone).

Article (7):

The Ministry issues a flexible work permit according to the following provisions:

  1. A worker who has obtained a permit may work flexibly for any employer in the professions permitted for non-Jordanians within any of the sectors or economic activities, without being restricted to a specific geographical area.
  2.  The flexible work permit is issued under the umbrella of any of the cooperative societies approved by the Ministry or the General Federation of Jordan Trade Unions or any other body specified by the Minister.
  3. The flexible work permit is for a period of one year, renewable for a similar period and its period is calculated  upon renewal starting from the expiry date of the last work permit obtained by the worker in accordance with the instructions, principles and decisions in force in the Ministry.

The Official Gazette:    (4831)

  • The following expressions are included on the flexible work permit card:
  • Where the phrase (the employer): insert the name of the entity under whose umbrella the work permit is issued. 
  • Where the phrase (profession): insert the phrase (sector worker or specified economic activity). 
  • When the phrase (remarks): insert the phrase (flexible work permit that allows work in professions permitted to non-Jordanians).
  • Where the phrase (governorate): insert the phrase (all governorates except the Aqaba Special Economic Zone).

Article (8):

The worker may upon expiry of the previous work permit or its cancellation, obtain any of the work permits stipulated in Paragraph (B) of Article (3) of these instructions and its period is calculated upon issuance from the expiration date of the last work permit obtained by the worker or from the date of its cancellation.

Article (9):

 The employer or the authority may contact the Directorate for the purpose of renewing the work permit of the worker at least one month prior to the expiry date.

Article (10):

The employer or the entity shall benefit from the exemptions related to workers that are issued by a decision of the Cabinet.

Article (11):

The Minister may determine the rates of workers and professions authorized to work at in the various economic sectors and activities according to the labor market data and needs, according to a decision issued for this purpose.

Article (12):

The application for obtaining a work permit within the types stipulated in these instructions (paper or electronic) shall be submitted by the employer or the entity that it is issued in its name and on the form approved by the Ministry, provided that the worker’s private documents are attached to it. These include:

  1. A copy of the service document for the Syrian community issued by the Ministry of Interior as a substitute for the passport. 
  2. Personal photos.

Article (12):

Subject to the provisions of Paragraph (D) of Article (6) and Paragraph (D) of Article (7) of these instructions, the Ministry shall issue a work permit within the types stipulated in these instructions to the worker after the approval of the Minister, or his delegate, according to the form approved by the Ministry. It should include the following data:

  1.   Personal data of the worker: (the name of the worker as stated in the service document, the permit number, the nationality, the personal ID number).

The Official Gazette:    (4832)

  • Profession data.
  • The expiry date of the work permit.
  • The directorate that issued the work permit and the signature of the director of the directorate.
  • The name of the employer.

Article (14):

The provisions of the applicable labor law and the regulations, instructions and decisions relating to the organization of non-Jordanian workers, including instructions for the conditions and procedures for the employment and recruitment of non-Jordanian workers issued pursuant thereto, shall apply in all that is not provided for in a text particularly in these instructions.

Article (15):

The Minister issues the decisions or foundations necessary to implement the provisions of these instructions. 

Article (16):

These comprehensive instructions for the conditions and procedures for the employment of non-Jordanian workers of Syrian nationality cancel those for the year 2018 and the decisions issued pursuant to them.

Dr. Maan Mardi Al Qatamin

Minister of Labor and

Minister of State for Investment Affairs