Gov’t not doing enough to protect domestic workers - watchdog

Gov’t not doing enough to protect domestic workers - watchdog


By Khetam Malkawi

AMMAN - The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) on Saturday called on the government to protect domestic workers and those working in the service sector.

“Despite modifying the Labour Law in 2008 to include domestic workers, no bylaws were issued to regulate rights of this category. Lack of legal protection for domestic workers violates the Constitution and international agreements,” the NCHR said in its fifth annual report on human rights released yesterday.

The report says that only 48,000 domestic helpers are registered in the Ministry of Labour records, while figures at the Domestic Helpers Recruitment Agencies Association show that there are around 75,000 domestic workers in the country.

According to the report, the NCHR received 140 complaints from domestic workers in 2008, 30 of which were related to violence and inhumane treatment.

In December, the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) described Jordan’s efforts to protect the rights of domestic helpers as “pioneering”, urging other countries in the region and the world to follow suit.

The organisation cited in particular the amendments to laws and regulations the government has introduced to correct the situation of this category of guest workers.

The report also criticised the endorsement of a law that restricts citizens’ rights to organise public gatherings, which, according to the report, restricts the freedom of public assembly through a requirement to obtain permission from the interior authorities in advance.

The NCHR also called on the government to modify the Elections Law to conform to democratic principles.

However, the report said that there have been several commendable actions related to human rights in 2008.

Among these were the establishment of the Ombudsman’s Bureau, which investigates complaints of improper government activity against citizens, and amendments to the Labour Law to include workers in the agricultural sector and domestic workers.

Other positive developments mentioned in the report were the endorsement of protection against domestic violence and the decision to rearticulate the child’s rights draft law to conform to international agreements.

According to the report, there was a drop in the number of complaints in 2008 compared to 2007.

The centre received 373 complaints in 2008 compared to 422 the year before.

The 136-page report focused on economic, social and cultural rights in general, but also gave special attention to other rights and proposed amendments to some laws.

Among the laws recommended for amendment were the nationality, elections, public gatherings, higher education and scientific research, publications, health and juvenile laws.



3 May 2009