Amman, June 7 (Petra) – The General Federation of Jordanian Trade
Unions expanded its international diplomatic presence and forged
cross-border labor alliances during its participation in the 114th
Session of the International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Federation President Khaled Al-Fanatseh led a series of high-level
bilateral meetings with prominent trade union leaders from Germany,
Norway, and Turkey to advance mutual training initiatives, share
expertise on social dialogue, and navigate structural transformations
within modern labor markets.
According to an official federation statement released on Sunday,
Al-Fanatseh emphasized that engaging with international labor models
is a core strategic priority for the Jordanian federation to
modernize domestic union operations, enhance collective bargaining
frameworks, and entrench the principles of decent work across the
Kingdom’s economic sectors.
In a technical session with Caroline Vollmann, Head of International
and European Trade Union Policy at the German Trade Union
Confederation, the two sides analyzed strategies for crisis
management and rapid adaptation to shifting labor market dynamics.
The discussions focused on leveraging German frameworks to build
institutional resilience and expand targeted workshops for women and
youth.
Vollmann expressed strong interest in the Jordanian federation’s
dedicated Migrant Worker Unit, and the German delegation confirmed
its readiness to trade operational insights and benchmark successful
practices regarding the integration and protection of transnational
labor forces.
Al-Fanatseh also held a strategic meeting with Nina Mjoberg,
International Advisor for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade
Unions. The dialogue focused primarily on the shifting parameters of
the green economy and the execution of Just Transition frameworks,
which aim to upskill workers as industries adjust to changing
environmental and economic policies.
Mjoberg affirmed that the Norwegian confederation is fully prepared
to provide ongoing technical and programmatic backing for these
shared initiatives, which include capacity-building initiatives
tailored specifically for Jordan’s youth and women’s committees to
increase their representation in executive union leadership.
The Jordanian delegation focused extensively on expanding its
Mediterranean and regional networks through detailed discussions with
major Turkish labor bodies.
In a session with HAK-IS Trade Union Confederation President Mahmut
Arslan, the leaders agreed on comprehensive mechanisms to advance
vocational training, workplace safety protocols, and joint
coordination within regional labor forums. This was followed by a
meeting with MEMUR-SEN President Ali Yalcin, where discussions
centered on institutionalizing public sector labor practices,
outlining a joint roadmap for the digital transformation of union
administrative systems, and creating sustainable knowledge-sharing
platforms.
The various meetings concluded with formal agreements to establish
practical execution mechanisms, including reciprocal delegation
visits and structured training seminars designed to align local union
practices with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The high-level Geneva meetings were attended by a senior Jordanian
delegation, including the Vice President of the General Federation of
Jordanian Trade Unions, Khaled Abu Marjoub, Executive Bureau Member
Bushra Al-Salman, and Federation Advisor Nizam Qahoush, who
participated directly in the Turkish bilateral sessions.
//Petra// AA