Life was already tough for unemployed men in the impoverished Jordanian town of Dhiban. But now, with food and services prices on the rise and the government considering another round of taxes and subsidy cuts, things are getting worse.
Last week, dozens of unemployed men protested near a water dam in the wider Dhiban district, blocking the road and demanding that the coalition of companies awarded a tender to double the dam's capacity make local workers their hiring priority.
"People have protested not because they have political demands, but because they want to improve their living standards. They are starving," said Hussein Samarat, the head of a municipality within Dhiban district.
Mr Samarat said he and other local officials negotiated with company representatives, who said they would look into hiring 70 people from the community.
This represents a small victory for the men of Dhiban, however. With nearly 1,300 men having applied for jobs at the dam, the vast majority will be unsuccessful.
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Read more:
Jordanians tighten belts as government increases taxes to combat debt
Jordan’s austerity drive risks fuelling resentment
Jordanians doubtful of change through ‘milestone’ elections
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Protests are not uncommon in Jordan, where the current rate of unemployment stands at a record 18 per cent and poverty at 14.4 per cent — although protesters run the risk of being detained if demonstrations turn violent or anti-royal slogans are chanted. And as the government considers another round of austerity measures, including cuts to bread subsidies, analysts warn that such protests could intensify.
“The economic situation may turn into a security threat that could drag the country into chaos,” said Oraib Rantawi, head of Al Quds Centre for Political Studies, a think tank based in Amman.
“People have reached the limit.”
Jordan is proud of the fact that it has so far managed to sidestep the violence that has engulfed the region since the Arab Spring. But concerns over bread prices are intensifying in the south where unemployment is high, and complaints against poverty are growing louder.
Eighty per cent of Jordanians say the economy is their biggest problem, according to polls released last month by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.
The economy has been hit hard by the interruption of trade from Syria and Iraq because of the conflicts there, the interruption of gas supplies from Egypt caused by extremist attacks on the pipeline running to Jordan, the erosion of foreign grants as countries change their spending priorities, and a refugee influx that is pushing the country's meagre resources to breaking point.
GDP growth for this year is sluggish and is expected to reach only 2.3 per cent — a slight increase of 0.3 percentage points on last year's rate, according to the World Bank. Already, 73 per cent of Jordanian families spend an average of 116 dinars (Dh601) more than they earn every month, and wages have not risen in line with the cost of living.
Since signing a three-year agreement with the IMF last year, the government has been scrambling to find ways to curb spending and generate revenues.
As part of the deal, the kingdom pledged to generate revenues of 450 million dinars this year, according to the government. Next year, it needs to generate revenues of 520m dinars, and in 2019, 570m dinars. It must also cut public debt to 77 per cent of GDP by 2021.
The government has defended possible plans to cut bread subsidies, arguing other nationalities — including Syrian and Iraqi refugees — are unfairly benefiting from a scheme that costs the country 140m dinars a year. But it says it also plans to provide cash assistance to the poor to mitigate the impact of rising prices.
Prime minister Hani Mulki said subsidies in this year’s budget cost the country between 800m and 850m dinars.
“No country in the world subsidises bread,” he was quoted as saying by the government news agency, Petra. “A good percentage of this subsidy goes to non-Jordanians which is a waste, particularly that the government pays for it in hard currency.”
But such justification provides little comfort for the people of Dhiban.
“If bread prices increase, it will be as if people are buying chicken,” said Oday Deif Allah, 23, who works part-time at a bakery in Dhiban. “People are buying bread in debt, and those who are unable to pay their debt at the end of the month outnumber those who can.”
At a grocery in the town, which lies around 70 kilometres south of Amman, owner Anas Al Qatami, 30, said locals now start buying their groceries in debt at the end of the month, after receiving their salaries.
“You would think that people would start buying groceries in debt 10 days after they receive their salaries, but the debt starts at the end of the month, which means that their salaries do not last them [even] a few days,” he said.
“Many are not settling their debts and this affects my business since I cannot buy goods in debt. All the prices are up, but the salaries have not risen.”
It remains unclear how Jordanians will react if the government does cut bread subsidies. But resentment is already building up.
“We can’t find jobs, there are no projects here," said unemployed Dhiban resident Ahmad Rawajfeh, 24. “Too much pressure leads to an explosion.”
In a rare move, a group named Fursan Al Sharq, which represents members of Jordanian tribes, retired and working members of the military, security personnel, politicians and union members, recently released a statement which, among other things, criticised the royal family for travel expenses it said eat up a big chunk of the budget deficit.
Back in Dhiban, unemployed Firas Qatami said Jordan faced a "bread revolution" if bread prices increased.
Moments later, however, he seemed to change his mind.
“People are afraid," he added. "They will not do anything. The fear factor is still there.”
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
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Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
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Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
if you go
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
