A new by-law will mean that contractors working on state contracts in Jordan must employ local workers, the Jordan Times has reported.
Under a new by-law priority should be given to residents of the district where the project is based, and the labour force must also include new engineering graduates in a project's design, implementation and supervision, the Jordan Times said.
The main contractor on a project must transfer part of the contract to a local sub-contractor, the news report said.
Foreign companies operating in Jordan are required to employ new graduate engineers and technicians from the local Jordanian 'governorate' in fields including mining, extractive industries, development industries, water purification, renewable energy projects and any construction project endorsed by the National Building Council, the Jordan Times said.
The by-law also applies to all government construction tenders in Jordan, including ministries and government departments, universities, local government and any authority and commission formed by the government. It extends to any companies that the government has a stake in, the Jordan Times said.
Employment law expert Luke Tapp of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com said: "There is an increased focus on nationalisation of the workforce within this region, particularly in jurisdictions of Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia."
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