Razzaz issues Defence Order, suspending items of Social Security Law

AMMAN — As per the Defence Law, that came into force on March 17 against the backdrop of a mounting coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Thursday issued Defence Order No. 1, suspending some items of the 2014 Social Security Law and replacing them with the order.

Razzaz said that the decision to issue the order aims to support “the pillar of the state of solidarity”, one of the government’s priorities set for 2019 and 2020.

The decision also comes in light of the current exceptional circumstances, with the purpose of aiding the private sector, which constitutes “the main pillar of our economic and social security”, and maintaining livelihood security for employees, he said.

Under the decision, the Social Security Corporation has suspended the implementation of old-age insurance for private sector employees for three months as of March 1, 2020 and reduced the social security subscription ratio for institutions and employees from 21.75 per cent to 5.25 per cent, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The premier, speaking from the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management, also said that the government is soon to announce decisions to assist farmers and other sectors, adding that the next phase “may be more difficult” and that the government will exert its maximum efforts.

“If we make any mistake, I pledge to correct the course and move forwards,” the prime minister said.

He also referred to the fact that Jordan was among the first countries in the world to form a crisis cell on January 24 after China announced the spread of the coronavirus, as the government’s first decision was evacuating Jordanians and Arabs from China, all of whom were free of the virus, Petra reported.

Since then, the government has taken 130 decisions regarding the coronavirus, with the 131st being the activation of the Defence Law as per a Royal Decree that stressed implementing the law within its minimal scope and focusing on urgent issues that positively impact public health and helping the private sector to overcome the fallout of the outbreak.

Razzaz stressed that His Majesty King Abdullah is following up continuously on the government’s procedures related to preventative measures and remote education, as well as the Kingdom’s reserves of food, medications and fuel derivatives.

The premier also said that the efforts exerted by the medical personnel, army, security apparatuses, administrative governors, municipalities and the private sector — especially among factories producing medical and pharmaceutical items — are all “a source of pride”, according to Petra.