Al-Khasawneh: majority of unemployed are university graduates

Lima Zeitawi .

Haitham al-Khasawneh, an expert in labor issues, said that the majority of the unemployed hold university degrees, indicating that 80 percent are females. 

Al-Khasawneh added, in televised remarks to Roya TV,on Saturday, that the government is stalled regarding the replacement of local workers instead of expatriate workers.

He pointed out that the culture of Jordanian society prevents Jordanians from working in several professions in various sectors. 

Al-Khasawneh mentioned the motives for the expatriate worker's lack of interest in issuing work permits, represented by their high fees, despite their reduction, as well as the strict measures by the Ministry of Labor.

He explained that there are expatriate workers who accept closed professions and do not get permission to work and therefore work 'illegally'. 

Al- Khasawneh stressed that local workers are emerging in a number of sectors, such as the tourism sector, unlike other sectors where expatriate workers stand out, pointing out that through training and qualification, Jordanian workers can replace expatriate workers in several professions.

 And he indicated that long working hours, lack of vacations, and low wages are factors that contribute to the selection of expatriate workers, rather than Jordanian workers.