‘Ministry dealt with 1,158 cases of child labour so far this year’

AMMAN — Labour Ministry inspectors have dealt with 1,158 cases of child labour since the start of the year, an official said on Tuesday.

Most of the underage workers were Jordanians, while 316 were of other nationalities, mostly Syrian, said Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Khatib. 

The ministry is still examining the figures in comparison to previous years. “We want to see if the numbers are on the rise or not,” Khatib told The Jordan Times.

Inspectors carried out 4,281 field visits, including late night inspections, to ensure workplaces do not recruit children.

Some 556 businesses received warnings, and tickets were issued to another 901, according to the ministry. 

In previous remarks, Khatib said the Labour Law and related   legislation do not differentiate between guest and national workers in the case of child labour

Meanwhile, minors aged over 16 who work legally under special provisions are dealt with as workers, regardless of their gender or nationality, he said.

Jordan has endorsed various international agreements to safeguard children against economic exploitation, the spokesperson noted.

The ministry established a child labour department in 1999, and the Kingdom endorsed the national framework to fight child labour in 2011.

In June, Labour Minister Ali Ghezawi called for an increase in the number of inspections at facilities where children might be employed.

Jordan ranked 46th globally and 5th among Arab countries in the 2016 global index for children’s rights.

Issued by KidsRights, an international children’s rights foundation, in June, the report ranks 163 countries on the extent to which they adhere to, and are equipped to improve, the rights of children.

For children’s right to protection, Jordan ranked 38th, based on child labour rates, adolescent birth rates and birth registration in the Kingdom.