PM issues Circular No.18 to regulate wages in most hard-hit sectors

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh on Saturday issued Circular No. 18 under Defence Order No. 6 that aims to manage monthly salary payments to workers in sectors and businesses deemed hard hit by the coronavirus or not authorised to operate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Minister of Labour and Minister of State for Investment Affairs Maen Qatamin said that, according to the circular pertaining to workers benefitting from “Estidama” programme, which was stipulated by Defence Order No. 24 of the year 2020 and circulars issued thereafter for the period of December 2020 until May 2021, are to receive 75 per cent of their regular wages, provided it includes senior executives. 

Workers at sectors and businesses unauthorised to operate are entitled to 50 per cent of their salaries, Qatamin added. 

In regard to workers at hard-hit or unauthorised sectors, who are not benefitting from the "Estidama" programme, the labour minister added that Circular No.8 will apply in this case where an employer may reduce the salary of an employee working on site or remotely by a percentage that does not exceed 20 per cent, provided that it does not fall below the minimum wage. 

Reductions shall be materialised upon mutual agreement without pressuring, coercing or threatening the worker, Qatamin stressed. 

The second paragraph of Circular No. 8 will be applied to manage the wages of workers in sectors and businesses that are not authorised to reopen.

Paragraph No. 2 says that an employer may reduce the monthly wage of a furloughed worker without seeking the worker's or the Ministry of Labour's agreement, provided that the reduction does not exceed 50 per cent of the salary and that received payments do not fall below the minimum wage. 

Qatamin also announced a list of sectors and financial activities that were most affected by the coronavirus and those not permitted to operate during December, 2020, in accordance with Defence Order No.6 for the year 2020.

The list is regularly issued by the minister of labour and minister of state for investment, and the minister of industry, trade and supply, approved by the prime minister, Qatamin said.