Labour Ministry praises companies opting to pay non-working employees full wages

AMMAN —The Ministry of Labour on Wednesday commended a number of institutions and companies that took the initiative to pay full wages to workers who were not required to work during the suspension period.

According to a ministry statement, Defence Order No. 6 of 2020 allowed these companies and institutions, with the ministry’s approval, to reduce the salaries of employees who are not working, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Some companies, however, expressed their unwillingness to take advantage of the Defence Order allowing them to reduce wages by 50 per cent as long as the payment does not fall below the minimum wage.

The ministry highlighted that it “fully understands” the financial burdens and economic pressures facing companies that did take advantage of the Defence Order. 

Some institutions announced this initiative in regard to April wages, while others did not specify a time limit, according to the statement.

The Minister of Labour sent letters of appreciation to these companies for their “positive and humanitarian initiative in such exceptional circumstances”.

The statement added that the ministry will periodically publish the names of institutions and companies that carry out the same action, stressing that the motive of these institutions is “first and foremost humanitarian and patriotic”.