Khaberni - The General Federation of Jordanian Workers' Unions confirmed on Saturday that the adoption of the unified electronic contract for employees in the private education sector represents a pivotal step in addressing the chronic imbalances suffered by the sector, putting an end to a wide range of labor violations that threaten the work environment and its conditions over the past years.
The president of the union and the head of the temporary committee for the General Union for Workers in Private Education, Khaled Al-Fanatseh, explained in a statement that the automation of the unified contract represents a qualitative shift in organizing the relationship between workers and private school owners, ensuring the rights of both parties. At the same time, he pointed to illegal practices suffered by workers in the sector, such as the absence of work contracts, manipulation of working hours, non-compliance with real wages, evasion of social security, and others.
The president of the union indicated that the unified contract platform in private education; is a national project developed in consensus among all relevant parties, through a technical committee that includes: the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor, the Social Security Corporation, the General Union for Private School Owners, alongside the Union for Workers in Private Education, and with support from the International Labor Organization, making the platform a collaborative project that serves the interests of workers and employers.
Al-Fanatseh added that the electronic contract was pursuant to a collective agreement signed between the Union for Workers in Private Education and the Union of Private School Owners. It is a legal agreement documented properly, and published in the Official Gazette, making its provisions mandatory and binding labor rights that cannot be retracted or infringed upon.
Al-Fanatseh pointed out that the Workers' Union was open to positive dialogue with the Union of Private School Owners during the implementation of the electronic contract in the last academic year, where a number of demands were responded to, notably adjusting the start date of the contract to accommodate the peculiarities of the schools' operations and facilitating the hiring processes.
Al-Fanatseh confirmed that the application of the electronic contract through the platform is proceeding regularly, and that employment contracts are being issued daily for workers in private schools, witnessing clear growth, appreciating the efforts of the Directorate of Private Education in the Ministry of Education, for facilitating the procedures for private school owners.
The president of the Union reiterated the information from the circular issued by the Ministry of Education, regarding the adoption of the electronic employment contract for hiring purposes, starting from the academic year 2025/2026, and that paper contracts will no longer be accepted.
The Dean of Private School Owners, Munther Al-Surani, said on Thursday that the majority of private schools will not comply with the automated employment contract.
Al-Surani believes that private schools have a confidentiality that should not be known to anyone.
The Ministry of Education decided to adopt the unified electronic employment contract for appointments in private educational institutions and private kindergartens, starting from the academic year 2025/2026.
The Minister of Education confirmed in a letter the necessity of applying the unified electronic contract instead of paper contracts.
