Labor Ministry suspends operations at Minister s office
The media spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor Muhammad al-Zyoud announced that two employees from the Minister of Labor Maan al-Qatamin’s office were infected with the new strain of coronavirus. In order to protect the health and safety of all employees, the minister decided to suspend operations at his office Wednesday and Thursday. Qatamin and his office staff will also self-isolate at home for three days. All appointments and meetings scheduled for the minister will be rescheduled for early next week. All other directorates across the capital and the Kingdom will continue operating normally.
The latest official data showed unemployment at a record high of 23.9 per cent at the end of September last year, compared to 19 per cent for the same period in 2019.
Having lifted most coronavirus restrictions two weeks ago, the government expects 2.5 per cent economic growth this year, compared to a 3 per cent contraction in 2020.
But in its latest assessment of Jordan, the World Bank said that coronavirus has “exacerbated existing structural weaknesses in the economy and left social challenges unresolved.
Economic recovery would depend “on the evolution of the pandemic and whether reforms are put into effect” to make the economy more efficient, increase exports and create a better investment climate, the international agency said.