Expanding Jordan’s Workforce Through Policy Change
Achieving an inclusive, strong economy means full participation of women in the workforce.
Abt’s main focus on the Jordan Communications, Advocacy and Policy (JCAP) project was women’s reproductive health. But another key component was helping the government reform policy to promote flexible working arrangements so that women and people with disabilities who needed such flexibility could work. A study by the Higher Population Council found that the majority of women withdrew from the workforce after marriage due to their inability to manage their work and home responsibilities. The Flexible Working Model (FWM) gives employees several options such as working part-time, working remotely, changing daily start times, and modifying their weekly or yearly work schedule.
Abt supported Ministry of Labor efforts to adopt FWM bylaws, which the government issued to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2017, as well as instructions for complying with the bylaws. Abt coordinated a technical committee to oversee a study of the status of FWM. The study, which targeted a sample of large companies that employ large numbers of women, showed the FWM had significant benefits.
- 100 percent of firms indicated that employees benefiting from the implementation of the FWM have high job satisfaction
- 95 percent observed a positive impact on operations
- 70 percent said the FWM increased productivity
- 65 percent reported the FWM attracted highly qualified staff
- 60 percent said the FWM increased the employability and retention of women in their work force.
JCAP and the Ministry of Labor released the “Investigative Study Findings: Flexible Working Models in Jordan” in 2018 at an event attended by more than 190 persons representing international organizations, national civil society associations, governmental bodies, and large private sector firms participated in the event. The Minister of Labor, the USAID Acting Mission Director, and the HPC Secretary General recognized the pioneering effort of two companies: The Consultative Group Company at the Istishari Hospital and Al Omariya schools.
JCAP also held two workshops for a total of 174 participants to raise awareness of the bylaws, instructions, and study findings.
The study showed benefits at multiple levels from accommodating the needs of women and those with disabilities. Employers and the economy were able to reap the benefits of skills and numbers of workers previously unavailable. The result is expected to be better economic and health outcomes for families, employers, and the nation.
“The work Abt conducted on Flexible Working Models was key in solidifying evidence on its positive impacts not only in increasing retention of women in the workforce, but also on increasing employees’ job statistfaction and productivity,” notes Mona Abdeljawad, chief of party, Local Health System Sustainability Project.
