AMMAN — It is
unjustified to maintain most defense orders, say political and economic
writers, yet they agree that canceling
Defense Order No. 6 might pose a threat
to the security of the society as it might increase unemployment rates.
اضافة اعلان
Defense Order
No. 6 of 2020 was issued in April under Defense Law No. 13 of 1992 by the
government of then prime minister and minister of defense
Omar Razzaz.
According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, this particular defense order aimed
to protect workers’ rights in all economic sectors in light of some sectors
gradually returning to work while the curfew continued. In addition, it
outlined procedures for certain employers whose functions had been suspended
under the curfew. The defense order also forbade employers from dismissing
employees.
Provision 8-A of
Defense Order No. 6 stipulated that no employer may pressure a worker to
resign, terminate his services or dismiss him, except under provisions of
paragraphs C and D of Article 21.
According to
economic writer Salameh Al-Darawi, it is unacceptable to keep working under a
vast number of defense orders, primarily because of the economic decline due to
the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, from a
sociopolitical and security point, it seems necessary to have some of these
orders/laws, like Defense Order No. 6, which protects workers” and whose
abolition could spell catastrophe to the security of the society, Darawi told
Jordan
News.
He added that
the government fears an increase in unemployment rates if Defense Order No.6 is
canceled, which is why the government is careful and is giving it serious
consideration.
“Except for this
issue, there is no need to continue to work under defense orders,” Darawi said.
Political writer
and analyst Hussein Al-Rawashdeh told
Jordan News that according to the
provisions of the
Constitution, continuing to have defense orders two years
after they were issued is unconstitutional because they deactivate many laws
and restrict the process of taking decisions to one person, which is the prime
minister.
Rawashdeh added
that the government seems to have three reasons for continuing working with
defense orders. One is the issue of debtor imprisonment, with more than 50,000
legal cases against debtors expected, which will overwhelm the courts. Another
is connected to the possibility that the private sector will dismiss many
workers from their jobs if the defense orders are cancelled. The last reason is
related to
vaccinations, he said, explaining that abolishing defense orders
might discourage people from getting the much-needed jabs.
“The
government’s reasons may be valid, but it should now propose solutions
regarding debtor imprisonment, enable courts to address pending cases and not allow
workers to be fired,” Rawashdeh said.
“The government
is delaying dealing with the issue, which makes one believe that it has no
intention to cancel defense orders before the end of 2022,” he added.
There is
criticism of the way defense orders were used at times, he said, adding: “The
government used defense orders for clear political reasons. At the same time,
there were double standards in applying some defense orders, like in the case
of Jerash Festival.”
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