Labour Law/Child Protection
Employment of Minors under Jordanian Labour Law: Legal Framework and Practical Effects
This summary examines the Jordanian legislature’s approach to employing minors, from the statutory definition to age, occupational and health restrictions. It outlines employer obligations, required documentation, sanctions for breaches and the practical consequences for minors and families.
Updated: 27 January 2025
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Definition of a Minor and Scope of Application
Jordanian law defines a minor as a person below the age of majority (eighteen) and sets a minimum age threshold for employment. The general minimum applies across most work activities, whether covered by the Labour Law or otherwise, reflecting legislative aims to protect a child’s development and access to education and care.
Age, Occupational and Health Restrictions
The legislature sets a general minimum employment age at sixteen, while certain hazardous occupations require the minor to be eighteen. Professional restrictions specify lists of prohibited tasks for minors, and health safeguards limit daily working hours, prohibit night work and require medical examinations to ensure fitness for the assigned work.
Procedural Requirements and Required Documentation
Prior to employing a minor employers must secure documentation proving age, health fitness and parental consent: a certified copy of the birth certificate, a medical fitness certificate endorsed by the Ministry of Health, and a written consent from the guardian retained in the employee’s file. These procedural steps provide legal safeguards and administrative traceability.
Employer Obligations and Legal Consequences of Breach
The law requires employers not to hire below the minimum age, to prohibit night or overtime work, to limit daily work to a maximum of six hours with appropriate breaks, to avoid placing minors in remote locations, and to pay them comparable wages. Violations expose employers to statutory fines and can render contracts void in certain cases, with penalties increased for repeated breaches.
Practical Implications and Oversight Recommendations
Effective implementation requires intensified workplace inspections, periodic monitoring of minors’ physical and mental health, and aligning minimum employment ages with completion of basic education. Awareness programmes, family protection measures and the available sanctions work together to reduce exploitation and improve minors’ educational and health prospects.
Legal notice
Notice: This summary is for general educational purposes and relies on the original source linked on the page; it does not replace review of the binding statutory texts, subsequent amendments, or specialist legal advice. Consult official legislation and a licensed Jordanian lawyer to verify details and procedures.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.