The Jordanian state is strong by enforcing the law on all, said Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Sunday.
He stressed the importance of overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities to build a strong society in which Jordanians can enjoy their rights and fulfill their duties under the law.
In his comments on suspending the teachers union and shutting down its offices for two years, Razzaz affirmed that the state is “not limited to one person, professional association or political party.”
“It is yet a group of institutions governed by the constitution, which includes the Hashemites and the legislative, executive and judicial authorities.”
Minister of State for Media Affairs Amhad Odeh Adaileh held a joint press conference with the ministers of education and justice and affirmed his rejection of any form of bullying.
Jordan’s society and state have made many achievements over the past decade, especially in health, education and security, he said.
“We will not neglect what Jordan has accomplished in these fields, particularly during … the coronavirus pandemic and its complex implications.”
Commenting on the decision to shut down the teachers union, Adaileh stated that the exceptional economic and social conditions caused by the global health crisis require cooperation.
“Workers in vital sectors and facilities, including education, realize that the state seeks to serve citizens rather than a party or group.”
The suspended union continues to threaten to organize demonstrations, strikes and sit-ins that harm the state’s vital facilities and their sustainability in violation of the public health law and defense orders that aim to protect citizens’ health, Adaileh said.
It is not possible for the future of the state, society, parents and students to depend on the decisions of a union and its threats to carry out sit-ins in violation of the law, he stressed.
Education Minister Tayseer Nueimi said the union had committed “clear violations” against the law.
It continued to use the language of dictation and bullying, rejecting all offers to develop education, he added.
It has become a tool that harms public interests, he indicated, adding that the union has disrupted the constitutional right of students to education, which is “guaranteed by international law and conventions.”
The union has pledged to carry out a strike across Jordan in early September, at the start of the school year, after the government refused to give teachers the raise approved in the 2020 budget.
The government sticks to its decision to cancel all bonuses and overtime payments for all public sector employees, including security members and officers to reduce the budget deficit.
