Judicial principles and studies
Labor Law as a Special Statute: Project‑Based Work
A concise summary showing that the amended Labor Law functions as a special statute, that cassation treats project‑based work as effectively open‑ended employment, and explaining appellate evidence‑weighing and the employer’s burden to prove leave.
Updated: 10 September 2026
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Subject
This summary addresses the Jordanian legislative and judicial approach to project‑based work and the related evidentiary framework. The amended Labor Law No. 14 of 2019, effective 16/5/2019, operates as a special statute that displaces provisions of the Civil Procedure Law No. 31 of 2017 and the Magistrate Courts Law No. 23 of 2017 where applicable.
Summary
The Court of Cassation has consistently treated work performed on a project basis as, in substance, an indefinite‑duration employment contract because a fixed‑term contract presumes precise start and end dates while a project’s completion cannot be predetermined; this position appears in decisions such as 633/2023 and 6458/2019. The appellate court holds full discretionary authority to weigh and assess evidence under Articles 33 and 34 of the Evidence Law, and the Court of Cassation will not overturn such assessments so long as they rest on legal evidence, reasonably flow from the case file, and are adequately reasoned pursuant to Article 160 of the Civil Procedure Law. The employer bears the burden of proving that the worker used annual or weekly leave or received payment in lieu, and must present written or personal evidence to that effect.
Practical significance
In practice, project‑based employment is often characterized as open‑ended under the cited judicial standard; trial courts’ factual findings on evidence enjoy significant deference absent defective reasoning; and employers are responsible for producing proof of any leave taken or compensated. This content is an educational summary only and is not judicial text or legal advice.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.