Equal Pay... A Jordanian Path to Enhance Labor Market Justice
Amman3 min read
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Jordan continues its efforts to enhance equality in the labor market, as the issue of wages emerges as one of the files linked to increasing women's economic participation and achieving equal opportunities between women and men, coinciding with the «International Equal Pay Day» which falls on September 18 of each year.
The occasion highlights the principle of «equal pay for equal work of equal value», as one of the pillars of justice in the labor market, whereby wage determination is based on the nature of the job, skills, responsibilities, effort, and working conditions, regardless of the worker's gender.
In Jordan, the labor system has witnessed legislative and institutional developments over the past years aimed at enhancing wage equity and reducing discrimination, alongside supporting women's participation in the labor market and creating conditions that help them continue and advance professionally.
The Jordanian Committee for Wage Equity, established in 2011, supports national efforts to address the wage gap, spread awareness about the concept of equal pay for equal work of equal value, and develop policies and practices related to wage equity.
Amendments to the Jordanian Labor Law have also reinforced the principle of equal pay for equal work of equal value, alongside regulating flexible work patterns, part-time work, and paternity leave, contributing to supporting women's participation and continuity in the labor market.
In 2025, the International Labor Organization, in cooperation with the Jordanian National Commission for Women's Affairs and under the umbrella of the Jordanian Committee for Wage Equity, launched a national campaign to promote equal pay, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of wage equity and the challenges facing its achievement in the Jordanian labor market.
According to official data from the World Economic Forum, Jordan ranked 122nd globally in the Global Gender Gap Index, recording a 65.5% gap closure rate, placing it third in the Arab world.
Despite progress in legislative and educational frameworks, women's economic participation still faces structural challenges, with Jordanian women's labor market participation rates hovering around 13-15%, which the National Strategy for Economic Modernization seeks to address by increasing women's participation and enhancing their contribution to economic activity.
Equal pay is directly linked to women's economic participation, as challenges in some cases start with employment opportunities and the nature of available professions and sectors, and do not end at the wage level but also include training, promotion, and career advancement opportunities.
Caregiving responsibilities and unpaid domestic work also affect women's career paths and may lead to reduced working hours or interruptions, impacting income and career development opportunities.
The importance of providing a supportive work environment for equality is highlighted through the adoption of clear and transparent wage determination criteria, evaluating jobs based on their actual value, ensuring equal training and promotion opportunities, alongside providing social protection and flexible work arrangements.
Enhancing wage transparency, applying labor market regulations, providing effective complaint mechanisms, and addressing discrimination cases are essential tools for reducing unjustified gaps.
The International Equal Pay Day emphasizes that achieving justice in the Jordanian labor market is linked to equal opportunities in employment, training, promotion, and access to leadership positions, enhancing women's economic participation and supporting decent work and social justice principles.
