AMMAN — The Senate on Thursday approved draft amendments to the Social Security Law as referred by the Lower House.

 

The Senators recommended calculating the amounts paid by employers for individuals under 30 years of age, and granting a tax exemption by 50 per cent on the total amount of subscriptions incurred by employers to cover this age group of employees.

 

Amendment of Article 59 of the law enables the private sector to reduce the monthly Social Security subscriptions of Jordanians under the age of 30 by up to 50 per cent.

 

Minister of Labour and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SSC, Yousuf Shamali, noted that the amendment aims to reduce youth unemployment rates in the 22-30 age group, which has now exceeded 50 per cent, according to the latest statistics.

 

He also said that a special system would be issued soon to address concerns regarding youth leaving the workforce after reaching 30 years of age.

 

The bill also regulates the legal status of military pensioners before they turn 45, and adds an extra year of service for employees in the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies who were still on duty on June 10, 2020, in a bid to grant more incentives for military personnel and injured servicemen.

 

Meanwhile, the Senate also approved two draft laws on civil status and labour as referred by the Lower Chamber.

 

The Senate approved the draft amendments to the Civil Status Law, reversing its previous decision on the bill. 

 

The Lower House insisted on its decision allowing first-degree cousins to benefit from a final judicial decision to change the family name on civil status data registers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

 

The amended Labour Law enables the Ministry of Labour to contract with any entity inside or outside the Kingdom to employ Jordanians, in addition to regulating the employment and recruitment of workers according to regulations issued for this purpose. 

 

Discrimination based on gender among workers is legally prohibited, per the bill. 

 

Instructions have been issued under the draft law to protect pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with disabilities and those who work at night to provide a safe working environment.