Jordan Garment Sector Boosts Disability Inclusion
The Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened a national dialogue session today under the title “Promoting the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Jordan’s Garment Sector.” The event aimed to exchange experiences and present international good practices in disability inclusion within the garment industry, while also discussing the key challenges that hinder the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the sector.
The dialogue marked the culmination of efforts under the ILO, which seeks to improve working conditions, strengthen workers’ rights and decent work, and enhance the competitiveness of Jordan’s garment sector. With funding from the Government of Canada, the ILO focused on building institutional awareness, developing practical tools, and adapting good practices to create more inclusive and equitable work environments for persons with disabilities in Jordan’s export-oriented garment industry.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Ghadir Al-Hares, Assistant Secretary-General for Technical Affairs at the HCD, stressed the importance of the ILO’s study “Assessment of the Situation of Workers with Disabilities in Jordan’s Garment Factories,” describing it as a critical step within national efforts to empower persons with disabilities and expand fair and sustainable access to the labour market. She highlighted the need to establish inclusive, barrier-free workplaces that embrace diversity and value talent, without discrimination or marginalization.
In the same context, Ms. Amal Mowafi, ILO Country Coordinator in Jordan, emphasized:
“Our work in Jordan’s garment sector reflects the core messages of the recent Global Disability Summit held in Germany and the Amman-Berlin Declaration, particularly the call to move from commitment to implementation, and to invest in practical solutions that ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market.”
The session included a presentation of the key findings of the ILO study “Assessment of the Situation of Workers with Disabilities in Jordan’s Garment Factories,” which examined the current state of disability inclusion in the garment sector. The study revealed institutional gaps, infrastructure limitations, and social barriers that continue to hinder the employment of persons with disabilities, despite the existence of supportive national legislation.
Participants also reviewed the contents of the Guidelines for Enhancing the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Garment Sector, which provides practical tools for human resources personnel and workplace committees to implement reasonable accommodations, support inclusive recruitment, and promote fair and accessible work environments for persons with disabilities.
The dialogue session brought together experts from the Ministry of Labour, employer representatives, the General Trade Union for Workers in the Textile, Garment and Clothing Industries, and the HCD. These stakeholders exchanged views and perspectives, highlighting the importance of continued joint efforts to address workplace accessibility gaps, confront social stigma, and ensure equal opportunities for all.
Speaking during the session, Sumaya Al-Zoubi, Disability Employment Officer at the Ministry of Labour, underscored that protecting the rights of all workers and ensuring a safe working environment through effective labour inspection and occupational safety and health measures are among the Ministry’s core priorities.
Khaled Al-Omrani, Vice President of the General Trade Union for Workers in the Textile, Garment and Clothing Industries, affirmed:
“The union believes in the right of persons with disabilities to decent work and is continuously working to incorporate their rights into collective agreements and to promote their inclusion in the workplace.”
Ann Theresa, Executive Director of the Culture and Human Affairs Department at Classic Fashion, noted:
“The inclusion of persons with disabilities will not happen overnight, but it will never happen unless we start now.” She emphasized the need for employers to fully meet the requirements for establishing inclusive workplaces.
Also during the session, MP Abdulraouf Al-Rubaihat, member of the Parliamentary Labour Committee, expressed the committee’s readiness to provide the necessary support to advance amendments to national legislation that promote the public interest and the rights of persons with disabilities in all areas of life.
The event concluded with a call to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration to build a more inclusive and sustainable garment sector in Jordan.
https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/promoting-inclusion-persons-disabilities-jordan%E2%80%99s-garment-sector