His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday honored several employers, workers and trade union staff at Al Hussein Ben Abdullah II Industrial Estate in Karak during a ceremony marking Labor Day.

The King also visited two companies at the estate, which together employ more than 3,300 workers and was briefed on their future plans.

During today's event, organized by the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), Minister of Labor Bassem Salem said the ministry has completed the creation of a training and recruitment fund in cooperation with the Jordan Armed Forces.

The fund will finance training programmes for local laborers to alleviate poverty and reduce reliance on migrant workers, Salem added.

He also reviewed the ministry's plans to curb unemployment, create job opportunities and provide workers with suitable working conditions, adding that the ministry has upgraded all of its schemes in this regard.

The labor minister said new investments in the country had created more job opportunities for Jordanians and enhanced their living standards.

In his address at yesterday's ceremony, GFTU President Mazen Maaytah underlined the importance of the workforce in pushing forward the country's development process in partnership with all concerned parties.

Maaytah said the federation was keen to develop the performance and the competitiveness of workers to further contribute to the country's advancement.

He also referred to the increase in minimum wage from JD95 to JD110, which he said would alleviate the suffering of workers and enhance their living standards.

The Jordan Times