Jordan has taken an important step to strengthen its cooperative sector with new amendments to its Cooperative Law. These changes aim to improve how cooperatives are governed and supported, helping them create more decent jobs and contribute to inclusive development.

The changes align Jordan’s cooperative framework with international standards, including the ILO Recommendation No. 193 and ICA’s Statement on the Cooperative Identity. One of the most notable reforms is the restructuring of the Jordan Cooperative Corporation (JCC) Board, which will now have equal representation, six members from the government and six from the cooperative movement, with a minimum of three women.

The law also introduces greater inclusion by encouraging the participation of youth, women, and persons with disabilities, and opens the door for foreign cooperatives to establish branches in Jordan. To support cooperative growth, the law provides for the creation of a Cooperative Development Fund to improve financing and a Cooperative Development Institute for training, research, and advisory services.

These amendments were developed with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands under the ILO PROSPECTS programme, reinforcing Jordan’s commitment to a stronger, more inclusive cooperative future.

Read the original news by the ILO here.