Shamali details Economic Modernisation Vision at International Labour Conference in Geneva

AMMAN — Over the next decade, initiatives under the Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) seek to provide jobs for one million young people, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, and Labour Minister Youssef Shamali revealed at the 111th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

This year’s conference is operating under the theme “Just Transition to a Sustainable Economy”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The vision, launched in 2022 under Royal directives, includes initiatives focused on capacity building, cultivating leadership and innovation and attracting investments, the minister explained.

Goals under the vision include a targeted increase in average annual per capita income of 3 per cent, Shamali said.

The EMV also aims to increase Jordanian’s “satisfaction quotient”, a measure of public perception of quality of life, to 80 per cent, the minister said.

The plan views the workforce as both the foundation and goal of economic and social development, the minister stressed.

Initiatives contained within the EMV focus on preparing businesses for a sustainable future, integrating elements such as green manufacturing, energy efficiency and strategies for reducing production and recycling costs, Shamali highlighted.

The vision also intersects with Jordan’s new Investment Environment Law, which seeks to expand sustainable employment through local and foreign investments in industrial and service sectors, he added.

The conference’s key themes of sustainable and inclusive economies, high-quality training and worker protections — issues that have come into sharp focus amid economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, global conflicts and climate change — are challenges that Jordan makes continuous efforts to meet, Shamali said.

The minister shared Jordan's work towards a comprehensive and sustainable economy, noting that the Kingdom’s efforts have focused on leveraging societal and sectoral potential, using resources sustainably, developing infrastructure and legislation, attracting investments and forging regional and global partnerships to bolster the national economy.

Sustainability is vital to the Kingdom's future economy, he stressed, adding that the key to sustainability lies in empowering a skilled workforce that is confident in both their role and their rights. 

Amendments to the Jordanian Labour Law establish more flexibility between employers and employees, also facilitating the creation of a safe work environment for women, Shamali said. Other amendments include the abolition of restrictions on women's work, granting them the freedom to set their career trajectory in both profession and timing.