Tricked and Trapped: Human Trafficking in the Middle East, ‎pdf 4.1 MB

Box 4.3. Ending forced labour in the garment sector
In Jordan, following a scathing report in 2006 by the National Labour Committee entitled
Descending into human trafficking and involuntary servitude (alleging that serious violations
of Jordanian and international labour laws and practices were being committed against
migrant workers within Jordan’s garment industry), the Jordanian Government sought to
improve the working and living conditions in the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs). The
Government swiftly reformed the labour inspection system, through which it imposed sanctions
against violators, including temporary or permanent closure of some enterprises where
employers flouted the law. a It also developed the Intensive Inspection Surveillance List (IISL)
in March 2007 for enterprises in the QIZs with a record of serious and repeated labour
violations. Factories on the IISL are subject to more frequent inspections to ensure they are
improving their compliance. If an enterprise is found repeatedly violating the labour law or
guest worker criteria, it can be placed on the Blacklist or Watchlist. b In addition to these measures,
in 2006 the ministry created the Golden List, a monitoring mechanism for garment
factories which aims to ensure that employers are complying with the law and showcases
those that adhere to best practices on labour rights and working conditions. The Ministry
revised the Golden List in 2008 to add stricter rules limiting overtime and the maximum
amount that can be deducted from workers’ salaries for living accommodation. c
Better Work Jordan, a project jointly managed by the ILO and the International Finance
Corporation, was also established in February 2008 with the aim of improving the competitiveness
of the industry by enhancing economic performance at the enterprise level and
improving compliance with Jordanian labour law and the ILO core labour standards. The
results of Better Work Jordan, documented in its four compliance synthesis reports, show
significant progress towards ending forced labour in the garment industry. In 2006, it was
standard practice to confiscate migrant workers’ passports; today, the majority have their
passports with them. Recruitment fees have also stabilized for all groups except for Indians, as
the recruitment process is handled by state-affiliated companies in the countries of origin that
keep costs minimal, covering only administrative fees for official stamps etc. In 2008, contract
substitution was common practice; today it is exceptional. The confinement of workers
has also been relaxed considerably. As the Better Work Manager explains, “there has been
huge improvement on key indicators of forced labour, which has been brought about by the
zero-tolerance attitude of brands and the willingness of the Jordanian Government and factory
owners to improve the situation. We’ve gotten to the point of seeing attitudes change.” d
a
The reform of the inspection system included increasing the number of labour and occupational safety and
health (OSH) inspectors; providing intensive training courses for all inspectors, mainly on international
labour standards; integration of labour inspection with OSH inspection; motivating inspectors by generous
performance-based incentives; and computerization of inspection activities.
b
An enterprise on the Blacklist is forbidden to bring in guest workers. An enterprise on the Watchlist can
only bring in guest workers after inspectorate approval.
c
Ministry of Labour, Jordan, Labour administration and compliance in Jordan: A multi stakeholder collaboration.
First progress report, Oct. 2009, p. 13.
d
Interview with an official from Better Work Jordan, Jordan, 19 Feb. 2013.
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