Dar Al Dawa administration accused of causing 'failure' of workers' negotiations

AMMAN — The Jordan Labour Watch (JLW) on Tuesday issued a statement claiming that the "intransigence" of the administration of the Dar Al Dawa Company led to the “failure” of the meeting chaired by Labour Minister Samir Murad on Monday in order to discuss the demands of the company’s workers, who started an open-ended strike on July 16. 

A total of 850 employees joined the protests after the company failed to meet their demands to adjust the salaries of veteran employees, establish a clear system for promotions within the company, activate the incentives system and create an environment of job security, according to General Trade Union of Workers in Health Services President Mohammad Ghanem. 

During the meeting, Murad stressed his keenness to “maintain a positive atmosphere leading to the resolution of the labour dispute”, pointing to “the importance of social dialogue among all parties involved”. 

“But regardless of mediations, the administration of Dar Al Dawa has refused to meet any of the demands submitted by the union,” JLW Director Ahmad Awad told The Jordan Times, highlighting that “no commitment was expressed whatsoever, despite the union's offer to sign an agreement for the implementation of the demands over a period of three years”.

“Dar Al Dawa is one of the leading companies working in medicine production in Jordan, but their working conditions are among the worst in the sector,” Awad added, calling on the company to “lever the working conditions so that they become parallel to those in other organisations in the sector”.

Responding to the claims, spokesperson of the Ministry of Labour Mohammad Al Khatib told The Jordan Times that “the negotiations will continue until an agreement satisfying all parties involved is reached”.

“The meeting did not fail, as there was a response from all sides,” he added, noting that the director general of the company will soon communicate with workers in order to reach common ground.

“Once this step is completed, the minister will meet once again with all parties,” Khatib announced, warning that “in the event the negotiations fail, the matter will be sent to a labour court”.

The administration of Dar Al Dawa was not available for comment on the claims, despite several attempts by The Jordan Times. 

In light of the lack of solutions to the dispute, a meeting will be held in Parliament on Thursday in order to address the situation, Awad announced. 

Representatives of the Parliamentary Labour Committee, the administration of Dar Al Dawa, the General Trade Union of Workers in Health Services and the Ministry of Labour will be present at the dialogue, according to Awad.