Ghezawi, Egyptian minister discuss guest workers’ cooperation

AMMAN — The rights of all guest workers, including Egyptians, are guaranteed under the labour and social security laws, Labour Minister Ali Ghezawi said on Sunday.

During a meeting with Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptians Affairs Abroad Nabila Makram, Ghezawi stressed Jordan’s keenness to enhance cooperation with Egypt in various labour issues, commending the “distinguished” bilateral political ties, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

He highlighted the importance of continuing cooperation and coordination to regulate the work of Egyptians labourers in the local labour market in order to enable state institutions to protect their labour rights. 

Ghezawi referred to a Cabinet decision adopted last month, which granted a grace period extending between February 4 and April 3 for guest workers to rectify their status.

For her part, Makram commended the brotherly relations between the two countries and the cooperation and support the Jordanian government provides to Egyptian labourers in the Kingdom. 

She also expressed appreciation for Ghezawi’s recent decision to ask employees to open the ministry on a Friday to help an Egyptian citizen going through emergency humanitarian circumstances, praising the ministry’s quick response in meeting several demands presented by her compatriots residing in Jordan.

The visiting minister also cited a recent governmental gesture to cover the costs of medical treatment for an Egyptian worker who was attacked.

Makram commended the government’s decision to grant the extended grace period to guest workers, saying it had a positive impact at popular and political levels.

Discussions at the meeting also covered labour issues related to the Jordanian community in Egypt.