Amman, Dec. 7 (Petra) – Labour Ministry Secretary-General Abdul Halim Doujan said the domestic work sector holds particular importance for its direct role in strengthening household labour frameworks and fostering employment relations based on respect, fairness and adherence to legal standards.
Speaking at an awareness workshop organized by the Recruiting Agencies Association (RAA) on "Mechanisms for Anti-Human Trafficking," with the participation of recruitment offices, Doujan said the nature of domestic work requires a high level of professionalism and responsibility, as the sector deals with workers who live inside family environments rather than in traditional workplaces. This, he noted, calls for more precise, cautious and transparent procedures.
He said all parties are working in a spirit of partnership and development to build a work environment that respects human dignity, prevents all forms of exploitation, and supports national efforts to prevent human trafficking and forced labour, in line with humanitarian values and the legal framework governing the sector.
Doujan highlighted the pivotal role played by the Association of Domestic Workers Recruitment Agencies and the offices under its umbrella in ensuring a balance between household needs and workers’ rights through clear and fair practices that respect laws and human standards.
He stressed that one of the main pillars of preventing human trafficking is having an organized, compliant recruitment sector capable of preventing illegal or exploitative practices by scrutinizing recruitment procedures, ensuring no unlawful fees are imposed on workers, and guaranteeing that contracts are clear, transparent and free of conditions that indicate exploitation.
He added that monitoring working conditions after the worker’s arrival and intervening when necessary to resolve issues, in addition to providing awareness for both parties about rights and duties and the importance of respecting human dignity, are essential. This also includes ensuring compliance with all legislation governing domestic workers and employers and preventing workers from being forced to work under inhumane conditions, including daily-wage arrangements.
Doujan underlined that preventing human trafficking is not solely a government responsibility but a shared one among all stakeholders, led by recruitment agencies, which serve as the first gateway through which workers enter the work environment. The safer, more organised and more transparent this gateway is, he said, the lower the risks of exploitation, the stronger the trust and the higher the quality of service.
He added that safeguarding the rights of domestic employers, workers and recruitment office owners is the real guarantee for building a strong, sustainable sector capable of promoting a positive image of decent work and offering a model to emulate at the local and regional levels.
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