Local organisation urges government to include daycare sector in Defence Order No. 6

AMMAN – A local organization on Sunday called on the government to include the daycare sectors among the private sector institutions and facilities that has been excluded from the work stoppage in a recent defence order due to the general curfew imposed last month to contain the COVID-19 spread.

On April 8, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz announced Defence Order No. 6 of 2020 issued under Defence Law No. 13 of 1992, which aims to protect the rights of workers in various economic sectors in light of some sectors gradually returning to work while the curfew continues.

The order notes that sectors, institutions and establishments excluded from the decision to suspend work, be they from the private sector or any other entity subject to the Labour Law, will be evaluated and permitted to operate after obtaining approval from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Health and the relevant minister, combined.

“The daycare centers are a vital sector that serves male and female workers in different sectors, and to minimise the negative effects of work stoppage for this sector we hope that it will be included in the Defence Order No. 6,” SADAQA organization said in a statement.

The statement stressed that it is important to include “this sector with the other entities that will be allowed to start operating soon, under strict health regulations”

The statement also called on the government to provide tax deductions and administrative facilitation to daycare owners as well as providing emergency funds for workers in this sector.

The statement also called on the Ministry of Social Development to “take responsibility in developing this sector and protecting it from collapsing, especially that workers in this sector do not have the necessary social protection, since many are under paid, do not have health insurance and are not enrolled in the Social Security Corporation”.

The defence order also stipulated that all workers in private sector institutions and establishments or any other entity subject to the Labour Law are entitled to their regular wages for the period from March 18, 2020 to March 31, 2020.