Discussion session examines gaps in  occupational safety systems

AMMAN — The Phenix Centre for Economics and Informatics Studies (PCEIS) on Tuesday organised a discussion session with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Jordan on the importance of effective enforcement of occupational safety systems.

During the session, experts and specialists discussed the recent occupational safety regulations which were published in the official Gazette in June. The session heard that “there are still legislative and operational imbalances in the occupational safety systems applied locally.”

Furthermore, they pointed out that there are gaps in the provision of social security for workers when it comes to occupational health and safety regulations. Relevant experts agreed that cooperation and collaboration should be implemented in this area.

Speaking during the session, PCEIS Director Ahmad Awad highlighted the need to allocate greater attention to occupational safety systems, as work injuries are on the rise in the last period.

He noted that the International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted 40 international standards within 16 different agreements.

Sukaina Al Majali, who is the director of the workplace injuries department at the Social Security Corporation (SSC), said that legislation related to occupational safety is “not properly applied in practice”. 

“In 2014, new legislation was introduced relating to occupational safety…after which reporting mechanisms were developed,” Majali said.