Jordan's trade unions step up efforts to make workplaces more inclusive for persons with disabilities

Jordan's trade unions step up efforts to make workplaces more inclusive for persons with disabilities

A new ILO training-of-trainers programme empowers union leaders to promote equal rights, remove workplace barriers and advance decent work for persons with disabilities.

10 August 2026

Group photo of participants and partners during the Training Programme for Trade Unions on Disability Inclusion in Amman, Jordan. 31/7/2026 © ILO/ Khalil Mahmoud

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AMMAN (ILO News) - Trade unions across Jordan are taking on a stronger role in advancing disability inclusion, following the launch of a new International Labour Organization (ILO) training programme designed to turn union representatives into champions of inclusive workplaces.

Implemented under the ILO project Cultivating a Pathway for Decent Work and the Care Economy in Jordan, the five-day programme brings together trade union representatives from across the country to strengthen their knowledge of disability rights, accessibility and inclusive workplace practices. The initiative is implemented in partnership with Jordan's Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) and the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU).

Unlike traditional awareness-raising workshops, the programme follows a training-of-trainers model, enabling participants to return to their unions and cascade the knowledge throughout their organizations and create lasting change that extends well beyond the initial group of participants.

Opening the programme, ILO Country Coordinator for Jordan Amal Mowafy highlighted the important role of trade unions in driving inclusive change across the labour market.

Amal Mowafy, ILO Country Coordinator for Jordan, delivers opening remarks during the Training Programme for Trade Unions on Disability Inclusion in Amman, Jordan. 31/7/2026

"Creating inclusive workplaces begins with empowering the institutions that shape the world of work," Mowafy said. "Trade unions are uniquely positioned to ensure that the voices and rights of workers with disabilities are heard, protected and reflected in workplace policies and collective action. This training programme is laying the foundation for more equitable, accessible and inclusive labour markets across Jordan."

President of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU) Khaled Al-Fanatsa said the trade union movement in Jordan is committed to advancing disability inclusion and strengthening the participation of workers with disabilities within trade union structures.

"We believe that developing more inclusive trade union policies and promoting inclusive, discrimination-free workplaces is no longer an option-it is a necessity driven by the values of social justice and international labour standards," Al-Fanatsa said. "We want to see more persons with disabilities in trade union membership, committees, elections and decision-making positions, because the strength of the trade union movement is measured by its ability to represent all workers and to give everyone the opportunity to participate in shaping its future."

Aya Matsuura, ILO Senior Specialist on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination for the Arab States, engages with participants during a group exercise at the Training Programme for Trade Unions on Disability Inclusion in Amman, Jordan. 31/7/2026

The training explores disability through a rights-based approach, focusing on equality, non-discrimination and full participation in the world of work. Participants examine Jordan's legal framework, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, workplace accessibility, accessible communication and inclusive facilitation techniques. They also gaining practical tools to identify and remove barriers faced by workers with disabilities, including identifying discrimination, advocating for accessible workplaces and amplifying the voices of workers with disabilities.

The initiative forms part of the ILO's broader efforts under Cultivating a Pathway for Decent Work and the Care Economy in Jordan project, which supports constituents and partners in promoting decent work, gender equality and inclusion. Persons with disabilities are among the project's key target groups, reflecting the ILO's commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the world of work.

Running over five training days between 31 July and 16 August 2026, the programme represents a practical investment in strengthening the capacity of Jordan's trade union movement to make disability inclusion an integral part of social dialogue and workplace practice.