Khaberni - The spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Mohammed Al-Ziyoud, stated that the ministry has deported more than 5,600 workers, both male and female, who were in violation of legal provisions in recent months.
Al-Ziyoud added that the ministry is carrying out continuous inspection campaigns, emphasizing that the presence of non-Jordanian workers working illegally in the kingdom is unacceptable.
Al-Ziyoud indicated that the ministry has communicated with the ambassadors of the non-Jordanian workers' countries to affirm that the procedures aim to protect the workers’ safety and health, regulate them, and educate them about Jordanian law, according to the kingdom.
He affirmed that the procedures aim to reduce violations in the non-Jordanian labor market, and the law will be enforced against anyone proven to be harboring or employing non-Jordanian workers, whether in homes or any other sector, in violation of the law.
The Ministries of Interior, Labor and the Public Security Directorate stressed in a joint statement the necessity for foreigners residing in the kingdom to adhere to the residency and foreigners affairs law, regularize their legal status, and specify their places of residence, emphasizing that the competent authorities are proceeding with taking legal actions and holding accountable all those proven to be involved in harboring or employing any foreigner outside the legal framework.
The Ministry of Interior explained that the residency and foreigners affairs law No. (24) of 1973 and its amendments compel, in Article (11), every foreigner who wishes 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 including their personal details and provide the necessary documents, to ensure the documentation of their place of residence.
The ministry added that Article (14) of the law obligates directors of hotels, inns, and hotel apartments, as well as anyone who harbors a foreigner or provides housing for them, to notify the Public Security Directorate within 48 hours from the time of their entrance or departure from the residence, explaining that violations of the rulings in Articles (11) and (14) subject the violator to a fine of (200) dinars in accordance with Article (36) of the law.
It also mentioned that Article (4) of the Residence Location Regulation No. (95) of 1998 obligates owners and leasers of furnished apartments to inform the nearest security center within 24 hours about any foreigner occupying these apartments or leaving them, confirming that the penalties provided for in the law will be applied against anyone who violates these provisions.
The Ministry of Interior emphasized that these measures are part of its efforts to combat any practices in violation of the law, assuring that it will not relent in taking legal actions against anyone who harbors any foreigner, and that violators will be referred to administrative governors to take the necessary legal action.
On the other hand, the ministry pointed out that these measures include a humanitarian aspect aimed at preserving the rights and safety of foreigners and preventing their exploitation by any party.
In the same context, the Ministry of Labor confirmed that any non-Jordanian worker caught working without a work permit, or in a profession not permitted to them, will be deported immediately, in addition to fining the employer and the entity that issued the permit or the homeowner, penalties that can reach up to twice the value of the work permit.
The ministry clarified that the system regulating the recruitment offices for domestic workers prohibits employing any worker without a work permit for the homeowner, forbids employing workers on a trial basis or daily wage system, as well as transferring the worker from one house to another without prior approval from the relevant authorities.
The ministry called on citizens to only deal with licensed recruitment offices, numbering (222) offices, warning against employing domestic workers who do not have a valid work permit, as this directly relates to the health of the worker 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 departments will monitor all violations related to the residency and foreigners affairs law and the labor law to control them and carry out legal procedures regarding them, and all security centers welcome visitors to facilitate their transactions in this regard smoothly and easily, asserting that anyone who harbors a runaway worker or provides housing or employment or tries to exploit any worker will face legal accountability, noting that investigations will encompass all those involved in escape operations, whether through recruitment offices, brokers, or individuals, and they will be referred on charges of human trafficking.
The Public Security Directorate also stressed that legal responsibility will also extend to anyone who contributes to smuggling domestic workers or providing shelter or employment for them without reporting, indicating that the competent authorities will verify their places of residence during periods of escape, and will take legal actions against all those proven to be involved or negligent.
