The Ministry of Labour signed an agreement to support the employment of 121 Jordanians at Millennium Agricultural Investments in Wadi Araba. This initiative provides job opportunities for local residents for a duration of one year. The partnership aims to facilitate formal employment within the agricultural sector, connecting job seekers directly with the company's operations in the region.
Details of Employment Agreements
The National Workforce Support Program serves as the primary mechanism for the ministry to facilitate the employment of the 121 workers at Millennium Agricultural Investments. Under the terms of this initiative, the ministry provides financial subsidies to ensure worker retention and support employer costs. This support package includes 50% of the national minimum wage, a JD25 monthly transportation allowance, and a JD25 monthly social security contribution for each worker.
Beyond the operations in Wadi Araba, the ministry has formalized a second agreement aimed at residents of the Karak Governorate. This arrangement focuses on placements at the Developmental Agricultural Industries Complex. Additionally, the Ministry of Labour signed an agreement to support the employment of 50 Jordanians at Safe Food for Food Industries in the Southern Jordan Valley. This specific commitment spans a duration of three years.
Mahmoud Al-Oran, head of the General Federation of Jordanian Farmers, addressed the broader implications of these placements. "The nature and seasonal character of agricultural work pose challenges to attracting local workers, but the presence of food-processing industries can change this equation by providing more stable and sustainable employment opportunities," he said.
The integration of these industrial complexes into the employment strategy seeks to address long-standing barriers to workforce participation in rural areas. Hamada Abu Najma, Workers’ House President, noted the importance of improving the structure of agricultural roles. "Young people’s and women’s reluctance to work in agriculture is not due to a weak work ethic or unwillingness to work, but rather to working conditions and the sector’s ability to provide adequate income, job stability and social protection," he stated.
The financial provisions implemented by the ministry are intended to bridge the gap between market wages and the requirements for social security coverage, aiming to create a more consistent employment environment across the targeted governorates. By linking job seekers to both agricultural production and food-processing facilities, the initiative attempts to transition seasonal laborers into roles with longer-term prospects. The agreements remain subject to the oversight of the Ministry of Labour as it monitors the recruitment process and the fulfillment of the wage subsidies across all participating entities.