21 May 2018.
Amman – Better Work Jordan hosted two workshops under the title, “Inspectors’ Training on Compliance Tools and Assessment” in Amman on 9-10 May, and 13-14 May, 2018. These, the second and third sessions in the series brings to 90 the number of inspectors and heads of inspection at the Ministry of Labour to undergo training since November 2017.
The aim of the two-day sessions was to introduce Better Work Jordan’s compliance tool and assessment guidelines to inspectors. The team shared the 208-question compliance tool with the participants while highlighting pertinent issues of sexual harassment and human trafficking as part of the initiative’s work tool. Better Work’s compliance assessment reporting is organized into eight core areas (or clusters) including on: child labour, discrimination, forced labour, and freedom of association – under the international labour standards section – and compensation, contracts/human resources, safety/health, and working time – under the labour law section.
Among the activities participants were given the 208 question questionnaire and instructed on assessment guidelines. The Better Work Jordan team walked the inspectors through a standard Better Work Jordan “unannounced assessment day,” which includes preparation, gaining entry, a site tour, worker interviews, management interviews, a report check, pre-closing, and closing. The group was then coached on report writing and were afforded the opportunity to preview the STAR software utilized by Better Work. Special focus was given to dorms inspection in line with the Ministry of Health’s 2013 mandate to prevent health hazards on site.
Participants also explored issues of sexual harassment and human trafficking at length, in addition to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Better Work and the Ministry of Labour regarding the zero tolerance protocol. Public reporting issues were also discussed.
Commenting on Better Work Jordan’s impact, Abdullah Al-Jbour, Assistant Secretary General for Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Labour said, “With the combined efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Better Work Jordan there have been many achievements in the garment sector. We look forward to our continuous cooperation.”
Sharing his views on the workshop, Ala’a AL-Saifi, a Better Work Jordan Team Leader said, “The exchange of ideas and practices is always enriching and beneficial to both parties. Ultimately, we are all working towards the same goal.”
Rand Al-Araj, Ministry of Labour Inspector on secondment to Better Work Jordan noted, “This workshop presents an excellent opportunity for inspectors to learn more about Compliance Tools.”
Highlighting the approach used in the workshop, Abed Aljwad Alnatsha, Ministry of Labour Inspector on secondment to Better Work Jordan said, “The assessment part of the Compliance Tools is comprised of 208 questions, all of which possess legal references to both local and international standards. Our role was to underscore the meeting point of these references to make them more relatable to the inspectors.”
Muna Ali, Ministry of Labour Inspector on secondment to Better Work Jordan highlighted the importance of open dialogue at these initiatives explaining, “We work on identifying a mutual perspective in issues and subjects that both organizations have in common.”
The Ministry of Labour has expressed its full commitment to this activity and as such several more workshops are scheduled for the rest of the year.