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— Bylaw aims to prevent conflicts of interest, ban ministers or their relatives from gaining personal benefits from their positions
— Bylaw will create legal framework for tender boards, oversight bodies to improve transparency in government contracts, bids
AMMAN — Chairing a Cabinet session on Sunday, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan directed the government to issue an “urgent” bylaw governing ministerial conduct, aimed at preventing conflicts of interest and prohibiting any personal gains for ministers or their relatives, while reinforcing the principle of ministerial neutrality.
According to a Prime Ministry statement, the draft bylaw will establish a legal framework for tender boards and oversight bodies to curb conflicts of interest among ministers.
It will also introduce binding provisions governing ministers’ interactions with entities dealing with the government in projects, tenders, and bids, ensuring transparency and integrity in public dealings.
Under the proposed bylaw, ministers will be prohibited from using privileged information obtained through their positions for personal benefit or for the advantage of relatives, the statement said.
It will also impose strict constitutional-based restrictions preventing ministers, during their tenure, from purchasing or leasing state property, even through public auctions, or from serving on corporate boards, engaging in commercial or financial activities, or receiving remuneration from private companies.
The prime minister also instructed the minister of justice, who chairs the ministerial legal committee, to review all legislation and regulations related to functional neutrality across the public sector.
The review aims to strengthen integrity, transparency, and governance standards in public administration, according to the statement.
During Sunday’s session, the Cabinet approved the 2026 bylaw governing the use of electronic means in judicial procedures at Sharia courts, as part of efforts to modernise judicial services and advance digital transformation in the public sector.
The bylaw seeks to enhance efficiency and streamline procedures by enabling the use of electronic tools in judicial processes, thereby reducing time, effort, and costs for citizens while improving service delivery and governance.
It also defines the scope of electronic judicial procedures across Sharia courts, the Sharia Public Prosecution, and family reconciliation and mediation offices, including the filing of lawsuits and applications, submission of memoranda and statements, notification procedures, correspondence, and witness testimony.
It also recognises remote video hearings as equivalent to in-person attendance, while maintaining confidentiality and data protection standards.
Electronic notification methods will include the government “Sanad” application, SMS messages, email, and registered digital addresses.
The Cabinet also approved the validating reasons for draft amendments to the Jordanian Judicial Institute Law for 2026 and referred them to the Legislative and Opinion Bureau for further action.
The amendments will introduce postgraduate programmes at the Judicial Institute, including a master’s degree in judicial and legal studies, in cooperation with accredited Jordanian and international universities.
The Cabinet also approved an amended bylaw to governing the licensing renewal system for health professionals for the year 2026.
The amendment is intended to enable beneficiaries to complete the renewal procedures for their professional licenses in cases where they previously did not meet the required conditions, allowing them to continue practicing their professions in accordance with applicable legislation, according to the statement.
Based on the provisions of the Public Health Law, the bylaw aims to enhance stability in the healthcare sector and facilitate the completion of licensing requirements for health practitioners. It also seeks to ensure the sustainability of healthcare services and improve their efficiency without interruption, while enabling medical personnel to regularise their status and complete renewal procedures within timeframes that serve the public interest.
The Cabinet also approved an amended Building and Zoning Bylaw for the City of Amman for the year 2026. The amendment aims to strengthen the economic environment supporting the construction sector in Amman, stimulate this vital industry, and facilitate procedures for investors and workers in the field.
