The need for a unified database for expatriate workers
The need for a unified database for expatriate workers
Amman – May 11, 2025
The discrepancy in the numbers related to migrant workers in Jordan reflects a deep crisis in the management of this file and reveals an institutional dysfunction that has long hindered the state's ability to effectively plan and organize the labor market. While the announced estimates range between 400,000 to 1.5 million migrant workers, the absence of an accurate figure remains the most prominent feature, indicating the lack of a unified national data reference upon which official policies and decisions can be based.
This discrepancy can only be explained in the context of the multiplicity of official bodies dealing with migrant workers and the lack of actual coordination among them, which has created a state of fragmentation and duplication in information and decisions.
The data related to non-Jordanian workers is scattered among multiple ministries and institutions such as the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Interior, Public Security Directorate, Social Security Corporation, Department of Statistics, and others. However, each entity manages its data according to its internal policies without a binding mechanism for data sharing or unification within a central database. These data are often treated as proprietary assets of the institution that owns them, which hinders any serious attempt to produce an accurate and reliable national figure.
Under such circumstances, it is impossible to envision effective policies for labor market organization, inspection and insurance programs, or even estimating the national economic needs for labor.International reports, most notably the International Labour Organization’s report in 2022, have confirmed that institutional coordination weaknesses and the existence of multiple independent databases are among the most significant obstacles to improving labor migration governance in Jordan.
The report recommended establishing a unified national database that consolidates data from all relevant parties and allows for systematic and real-time updates, facilitating evidence-based decision-making.Several countries, such as Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, have succeeded in establishing unified electronic systems for migrant labor data through automatic linkage among relevant ministries.
These systems enable tracking of a worker from the moment of entry until the end of the contractual relationship, which has helped them achieve high levels of organization and rapid responsiveness.The continuation of the current situation in Jordan has direct negative consequences on labor market regulation.
The disparity in figures not only reflects a lack of clarity but also leads to conflicting policies and complications in replacement and training programs. It limits the capacity of official entities to monitor violations, ensure enforcement of minimum wage regulations, or impose occupational safety standards. It also hampers planning for expanding social protection coverage or delivering suitable services to workers.Over the years, repeated attempts have been made to unify the databases related to migrant workers, but all have failed due to each entity’s insistence on keeping its data and refusal to share it within a joint national framework.
In the absence of a single body legally and technically authorized to manage this file, the chaos in figures will persist, and any announced number will remain questionable no matter how accurate the issuing entity may be. This is while Jordan is expected to be among the technologically and administratively advanced countries.The solution lies in establishing a unified national database for migrant workers that integrates all information and is managed, developed, and regularly updated under the supervision of a single responsible entity.
This database should be the sole reference for all ministries and institutions and must be regulated by a clear and binding legal provision that ensures data flow and prevents its monopolization. Without this, the file of migrant workers will remain one of the most chaotic files, and the policies based on it will continue to be vulnerable to compromise and violation.
