Session explores advancing maternity protection via Social Security Law

AMMAN — The Information and Research Center of the King Hussein Foundation hosted a discussion session on Tuesday titled "Strengthening Maternity Protection through the Social Security Law", with the participation of key decision makers and representatives of civil society institutions, Jordan’s Senate, and human rights organizations. اضافة اعلان

According to a press statement issued on Tuesday, studies carried out by the center have shown that the rate of Jordanian women’s participation in the labor market decreased by 13.7 percent during the last quarter of 2022, while the unemployment rate among Jordanian women reached 33.1 percent.



In this context, the center published a study, “Social security reforms in Jordan and the employment of women in the private sector in 2020”, the results of which indicate that over 75 percent of employers asked about the marital status of female job applicants during interviews, and 25 percent questioned applicants about their plans to have children in the future — factors that appear to contribute to low employment rates among Jordanian women.



In the statement, the Information and Research Center applauded efforts made by the Social Security Corporation to provide social protection for female workers and workers in general, and “all the protection measures taken to ensure that working mothers and children, in particular, are protected”. It referenced Constitutional amendments made in 2011, which stipulate the provision of legal protections for mothers and children, and Article 44 of the Social Security Law, which requires the provision of maternity benefits to pregnant employees.

Employment discriminationHowever, through 20 interviews with human resources officials in various private sector establishments, the center found that laws stipulating the provision of maternity benefits to employees have played “a significant role in limiting women's economic participation”.

Over 75 percent of employers asked about the marital status of female job applicants during interviews, and 25 percent questioned applicants about their plans to have children

Often, it said, the private sector “refuses to provide a job opportunity for a pregnant woman who does not meet the requirements of Article 44 to avoid covering maternity leave at the expense of the establishment in the private sector.”



In addition, the statement said, labor-related legislation “is still far from providing the required protection for motherhood and childhood”.

For example, the Labor Law lacks provisions ensuring that maternity does not constitute a reason for discrimination in employment, or appropriate measures to ensure that pregnant or breastfeeding women do not have to do work that could be harmful to their health or the health of their children.

The Labor Law lacks provisions ensuring that maternity does not constitute a reason for discrimination in employment

The Civil Service Law of 2020 does state that a pregnant employee may not be assigned to do physical work harmful to her health or pregnancy, however, according to the center, “this protection does not include breastfeeding employees”.



A call for further change"We need comprehensive amendments that include healthcare subsidies for women and children and coverage for diseases or complications resulting from pregnancy and childbirth costs," Hamada Abu Najma, head of the Jordanian Center for Labor Rights, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Professor Amal Haddadin, a legal advisor to the Jordanian National Committee for Women's Affairs, said: "The percentage of women's participation in the labor market in the Arab world is 21 percent, and in Jordan, the percentage is less than that, although the Jordanian constitution enhances women's economic participation in the labor market.”

“Therefore, we must address Article 44 (regarding) maternity leave… to reduce the chances of (women’s) withdrawal from the labor market."



Proposed legal amendmentsThe experts in the discussion session recommended making two amendments to the Social Security Law.

"We need comprehensive amendments that include healthcare subsidies for women and children"

First, they proposed that working women should have a right to maternity leave for a period not less than fourteen weeks, or at least the allow women working in the private sector equal leave to those in the public sector (i.e. 90 days instead of 70).

Second, they proposed that, in the event of the death of a mother, the father should be entitled to the remaining period of maternity leave.


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