Agricultural sector representatives give ultimatum to gov’t over decisions on labour, refrigerated trucks

AMMAN — Representatives of the agricultural sector on Sunday gave the government until Tuesday to revisit two decisions regulating labour and refrigerator trucks before they shut down their operations.

Eight agricultural associations, societies and unions said the two decisions have been taken without consulting sector representatives, and are adding to their losses since the country closed down its border crossings with Syria last year.

The two decisions entail banning the employment of new guest workers, with the aim of regulating the labour market and pinpointing the exact number of guest labourers in Jordan, as well as banning foreign refrigerator trucks from carrying the country’s produce abroad due to the availability of a sufficient fleet of Jordanian refrigerator trucks, according to officials.

Zuhair Jweihan, president of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruits and Vegetables, said that the agriculture sector representatives have been meeting with the concerned ministers and lawmakers to reach a settlement.

“We haven’t agreed on a solution that can save the agriculture sector from further deterioration,” Jweihan said, noting that the sector last Thursday temporarily stopped producing and marketing fruit and vegetables in rejection of the decisions.

On Tuesday before noon, the representatives of the sector will hold a press conference to announce their stand, he added, noting that their position will depend on the way the government deals with their complaints.

“On Tuesday, we will either thank the government for its support or announce an entire shut-down of our operations,” Jweihan said.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin said on Sunday that the ministry is meeting and coordinating with agriculture sector representatives and the concerned authorities to reach a settlement.