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- Cabinet announces JD30 monthly salary increase for lower-income employees, retirees
- Gov’t targets 15% reduction in operational expenditures next year
- Over JD500m allocated to maintain key subsidies, national aid
- Preference granted to local products in public tenders raised to 20%
AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Monday urged ministries and government departments to begin drafting their 2027 budgets, ensuring the government submits the draft general budget within the constitutional timeframe for parliamentary approval before the end of 2026.
Chairing a Cabinet session, Hassan emphasised the priority of strategic capital projects, particularly in the water, transport and energy sectors, according to a Prime Ministry statement.
He also stressed continued spending on health, education and digitisation in line with the Economic Modernisation Vision and the Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap.
Hassan also ordered a monthly salary increase of JD30 for civil and military employees and retirees whose monthly salaries are below JD600.
He also instructed the relevant entities to allocate the required funds in the 2027 budget.
Hassan also tasked the minister of finance with developing a clear plan to reduce operational expenses across ministries, government entities and independent institutions by 15 per cent next year.
Hassan underscored the need to prioritise the social safety net in the coming year to help low-income citizens cope with economic pressures stemming from regional conditions and their impact on the economy.
He also directed continued allocations to maintain subsidies for wheat, barley, gas cylinders and national aid, amounting to more than JD 500 million, in addition to funding for the University Student Support Fund.
The Cabinet also approved increasing the price preference granted to locally manufactured industrial products in government tenders to 20 per cent from 15 per cent, in a move aimed at supporting the industrial sector, enhancing its competitiveness and increasing its contribution to economic growth.
Under the decision, Jordanian industrial products will be given priority in government tenders even when they are priced up to 20 per cent higher than imported alternatives, provided they meet approved technical and engineering standards.
The government said the measure is intended to boost demand for locally manufactured products, support the expansion of domestic industries, and encourage industrial investment. It is also expected to increase production capacity, create new job opportunities, and contribute to the goals of the Economic Modernisation Vision.
