Ministry of Labor: More than 1000 domestic workers reported to have fled since the beginning of 2026
Amman3 min read
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The spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Muhammad Al-Zioud, said on Monday that the number of domestic workers reported to have fled since the beginning of the year is over 1000, while the Ministry has managed to apprehend around 400 workers so far.
Al-Zioud added that the government's decision since the beginning of last June has provided a period for legalizing and correcting the status of illegal non-Jordanian workers of various nationalities, including domestic workers, noting that there are about 9 days left until the end of the status correction period, with the Ministry's directorates continuing to work until 5 PM, including Saturday.
He explained that the Minister of Labor has directed the formation of two specialized committees for inspection and monitoring of domestic workers, in cooperation with the Public Security Directorate, to follow up on cases of escape, in light of complaints from citizens in this regard.
He pointed out that the committees will work through continuous inspection rounds, morning and evening, to apprehend the violating and fleeing workers, and to enhance deterrence against anyone who attempts to smuggle workers out of homes or assist them in doing so, stressing that everyone caught will be held accountable.
He explained that the cases of workers' escape, according to the available data, are not organized, but rather are individual cases, although the phenomenon has spread to some nationalities, amid a belief among some workers that individual work may be better for them financially.
He stressed that working according to the provisions of the law and through employment offices provides protection for workers from exploitation, explaining that the escape of a worker may make her more vulnerable to exploitation, and may prevent her from resorting to the Ministry of Labor in case of any injustice or violation of her rights.
He pointed out that the Ministry is in contact with the Syndicate of Employment Offices and the concerned embassies, with the aim of enhancing awareness among workers of the dangers of escape and working outside the legal frameworks, and what may result from their exposure to exploitation and the erosion of their labor rights.
He said that the period for correcting the status also provided an opportunity for fleeing workers for more than two years to move to a new employer, but the benefit from this opportunity was not at the expected level, which prompted the Ministry to intensify follow-up and inspection procedures through the two formed committees.
