Jordan, Ireland, ILO Discuss Wage Equity, Labor Cooperation

Amman, Sept. 2 (Petra) -- Wage equity is "not solely" a women's rights issue, but a fundamental labor right and a core element of decent work, women's economic participation, productivity and sustainable development, Labor Ministry Secretary General Abdul Halim Dougan said Wednesday.

Dougan's remarks came during a meeting of the Jordanian Pay Equity Committee, co-chaired by Doughan and Jordanian National Commission for Women Acting Secretary General Dima Jweihan, held at the Labor Ministry with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Irish Ambassador to Jordan Nicole McHugh.

As for its agenda, the meeting discussed strengthening pay equity and explored cooperation with Ireland ahead of the upcoming meeting of the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) in Dublin.

Talking at the meeting, Doughan congratulated the ambassador on Ireland's membership in EPIC in 2025, saying the step reflects a "serious" commitment to translating the principle of equal pay into concrete policies and practices.

Jweihan, speaking alongside ILO Jordan Country Coordinator Amal Mowafy and the IOL Decent Work for Women Programme Manager Reem Aslan, said Jordan is developing its approach to addressing wage gaps by strengthening the use of data and practical tools, institutional partnerships, awareness efforts and legislative reform, supporting more precise, measurable policies.

She stated that bridging these gaps is a "key" pillar of women's economic empowerment, adding that achieving tangible results requires moving from general principles to data-driven policy application.

She pointed to the committee's role as a national framework for coordination and dialogue, and the need for its continued work with government, employers, workers and civil society.

McHugh said Dublin's hosting of EPIC's annual technical meeting reflects Ireland's firm commitment to advancing equality between women and men, particularly the principle of equal pay for work of equal value.

She said Ireland believes pay equity is key to achieve inclusive economic growth and social justice, expressing her country's desire to exchange expertise and successful practices and contribute to international efforts to remove structural barriers to full equality in the world of work.

Bilaterally, Mowafy said Jordan and Ireland's membership in the alliance opens "broader" avenues for exchanging expertise and successful practices and strengthening international cooperation to address the structural causes of the gender wage gap and entrench the principle of equal pay for work of equal value.

She said these efforts align with the priorities of Jordan's National Decent Work Program 2026-2027, a framework for cooperation between the ILO, the government and social partners that emphasizes gender equality, greater women's economic participation, improved access to decent work and a more equitable, inclusive work environment.

She said Jordan represents an international success story in advancing pay equity, based on its commitment to the principles of ILO Convention No. 100 on equal remuneration.

//Petra// NQ

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