AMMAN — The Estidama
program, including all its branches, will come
to an end in June and is more likely to not be renewed, according to
Social Security Corporation (SSC) Assistant Director-General Mohammed Odeh, Al-Rai
daily reported.
اضافة اعلان
Estidama
covers 50 percent of workers’ wages in businesses and organizations that are
unable to operate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Himayah extends that coverage
to those employed in tourism and transportation.
On
December 31, 2021 Prime Minister
Bisher Al-Khasawneh issued Defense Order 52,
which extended the coverage of the Estidama and Himayah programs until the end
of June 2022.
According
to Odeh, Estidama costs around JD30 million, of which JD20 million is covered
by the government, while the remaining JD10 million is paid by the SSC.
Since
the program was extended, those employed at companies benefiting from Himayah
and Estidama Plus and registered for social security will not face salary cuts,
Odeh said.
Around
24,000 institutions and 41,000 workers are expected to benefit from the
extension of the
Estidama program, according to Odeh, who noted that Defense
Order 52 will reduce the cost of subscription from 21.75 percent to 13.5
percent for beneficiary institutions.
Determining
which institutions are eligible for support, they have to fulfil specific
requirements on a monthly basis, Odeh explained. To be eligible for Estidama
support, a company has to prove it was negatively impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic the month prior.
Applications
to request support from the Estidama program open on February 20, under which
employers will cover 60 percent of the workers and the SSC will contribute 40
percent, Odeh said.
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