Khaberni - The Ministries of Interior, Labor, and the Public Security Directorate emphasized today in a joint statement the necessity for foreigners residing in the Kingdom to comply with the provisions of the Residence and Foreign Affairs Law, to rectify their legal status, determine their places of residence, and stressed that the competent authorities are proceeding with taking legal steps, and holding accountable anyone proven to be involved in harboring or employing any foreigner outside the framework of the law.
The Ministry of Interior clarified that the Residence and Foreign Affairs Law No. (24) of 1973 and its amendments, require in Article (11) every foreigner wishing to stay in the Kingdom for more than two weeks to visit the Public Security Directorate or one of its branches or security centers to organize a declaration that includes their personal details and provide the necessary documentary evidence, to ensure documentation of their place of residence.
The ministry added that Article (14) of the law obliges managers of hotels, inns, and serviced apartments, and anyone harboring a foreigner or allocating them accommodation, to notify the Public Security Directorate within 48 hours of their entry or departure from the place of residence, indicating that violation of the judgments in Articles (11) and (14) would subject the violator to a fine amounting to (200) dinars according to Article (36) of the law.
It also pointed out that Article (4) of the Residence Place Designation System No. (95) for the year 1998 obliges owners and lessees of furnished apartments to inform the nearest security center within 24 hours about any foreigner occupying those apartments or departing from them, confirming that the penalties stipulated in the law will be applied to anyone violating these provisions.
The Ministry of Interior emphasized that these measures are part of its efforts to combat any illegal practices, affirming that it will not hesitate to take legal actions against anyone harboring any foreigner, and that violators will be referred to the administrative governors to take the necessary legal measures.
On the other hand, the ministry indicated that these procedures include a humanitarian aspect aimed at preserving the rights and safety of foreigners and protecting them from exploitation by any party.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor confirmed that any non-Jordanian worker found working without a work permit, or in a profession other than what is permitted, will be deported immediately, in addition to penalizing the employer and the entity from which the permit was issued or the house owner, with fines reaching twice the value of the work permit.
The Ministry stated that the system regulating the recruitment agencies for home workers prohibits employing any worker without a work permit for the house owner, and forbids employing workers on a trial basis or on a daily wage system, as well as transferring the worker from one house to another without prior consent from the competent authorities.
The ministry called on the citizens to deal only with licensed recruitment offices, which number (222) offices, warning against employing domestic workers who do not hold a valid work permit, as this directly relates to the worker's health and the family's health, especially since renewing the permit requires an annual medical examination.
For its part, the Public Security Directorate confirmed that all its relevant administrations will follow up on all violations related to the Residence and Foreign Affairs Law and the Labor Law to control them and implement legal procedures regarding them, and that all security centers will welcome visitors to accomplish their transactions related to this matter easily and smoothly.
The Directorate confirmed that anyone harboring a runaway worker or providing housing or employment, or trying to exploit any worker would be subject to legal accountability, noting that the investigations will encompass all those involved in the escape processes, whether through recruitment offices or intermediaries or individuals, and they will be referred for human trafficking charges.
The Public Security Directorate also affirmed that legal responsibility will also extend to anyone contributing to the smuggling of domestic workers or providing shelter or work for them without reporting, noting that the competent authorities will verify their places of residence during the runaway periods and will take legal measures against anyone proven to be involved or negligent.
