Union of Domestic Workers Recruitment Offices: The percentage of runaway workers does not exceed 1-2 percent
Al-Nouti: The necessity of tightening penalties on those who shelter and employ runaway workers illegally
Amman3 min read
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The representative of the owners of domestic workers recruitment offices, Tariq Al-Nouti, confirmed that the phenomenon of runaway workers is not new, pointing out that its percentage remains stable and has not increased, estimated at about 1-2%, despite the widespread circulation of escape cases through social media platforms.
Al-Nouti said, during his appearance on the program “Pulse of Opinion” on “Ether of Opinion”, that some workers are deceived while they are with their employers, by being tempted with higher salaries or better working conditions, before being employed later illegally.
He praised the efforts made by the security agencies and the Ministry of Labor in monitoring illegal and runaway workers, pointing out that inspection campaigns are one of the important tools to limit this phenomenon.
He explained that licensed recruitment offices are among those affected by the phenomenon of runaway workers, whether during the guarantee period or after it, due to the existence of a black market that includes brokers and unlicensed agencies and offices that shelter and employ runaway workers in a manner contrary to the law.
He pointed out that the union works to provide the competent authorities with information related to brokers, unlicensed offices, and entities that employ runaway workers, calling for intensifying inspection campaigns and holding accountable anyone found involved in employing workers illegally.
Al-Nouti called for amending legislation to ensure that the party causing the damage bears responsibility, whether it is the employer or the recruitment office, stressing the importance of having a legal mechanism that allows compensating the affected party for the financial losses incurred as a result of the worker's escape.
He proposed increasing penalties for those who shelter or employ runaway workers illegally, including fines and imprisonment, in addition to obligating the party responsible to compensate the affected party.
Al-Nouti pointed out that complaints do not come only from employers, but also from workers regarding mistreatment or non-payment of wages or accumulated financial dues for years.
He pointed out that some disputes may escalate into theft cases, confirming that these cases are subject to the judiciary, and that some cases filed against workers end in non-responsibility or lack of evidence, while some complaints may be related to labor disputes between the parties.
Al-Nouti called on homeowners in the event of a worker's escape to review the security center and file an official report, in addition to informing the recruitment office.
Al-Nouti emphasized that recruitment offices, in many cases, seek to assist both the employer and the worker, including changing the place of work when the worker is not suitable for the home or does not feel comfortable, in accordance with the applicable systems and laws.
Al-Nouti stressed that proper treatment of workers and cooperation between the employer and the recruitment office can contribute to reducing cases of escape, confirming that addressing the phenomenon requires the cooperation of all parties and concerned authorities.
