Study assesses impact of pandemic on working women

AMMAN — The Phenix Centre for Economic and Informatics Studies in cooperation with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) on Thursday launched an assessment study under the title “Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the availability of jobs and women’s working conditions in Jordan”.

The study, through interviews and questionaries, surveyed a sample of 800 working women, according to a statement from the centre.

Ahmad Awad, director of the centre, during a virtual launching ceremony, said that the economic and social effects of the pandemic have varied, noting that the impact depends on the country’s economy and levels of social protection, highlighting that women, the most vulnerable group, have paid the highest price. 

Canada’s Ambassador to Jordan Donica Pottie said that the pandemic has affected the global economy, with the impact felt especially by women, stressing that government policies should include gender-based standards.

She also drew attention to the need for providing support for working women, lauding the efforts exerted in the study and highlighting the importance of its results towards showing the economic and social impact of the pandemic on women.

Head of Employment Directorate at the Ministry of Labour Oun Al Nahar said that the ministry during the pandemic provided some 11,000 jobs, out of which 4,000-5,000 were for women.

Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women's Affairs Salma Al Nims highlighted the poor situation for women, noting that complaints are increasing.

The study generated 27 recommendations, most notably the introduction of social protection systems for women, particularly in the unorganised sector, via reducing businesses’ social security contributions.