OFW Guide to Living and Working in Jordan

According to the Philippine Embassy located in Amman, Jordan, there are at least 26,000 FIlipinos living and working in Jordan – and these numbers reflect the documented ones. There are still Filipinos who were unable to register with the embassy, which means the numbers could go higher.

If you are an unregistered Filipino worker in Jordan, you can register here.

What does this mean? There are a lot of job opportunities available in Jordan. Housekeeping and household service workers are in demand, but you can also work in the service industry and as a healthcare professionals. In case Jordan is interesting for you, here’s what you need to know about living and working in this proud country:

General Facts 

Officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, this country has Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Israel, and Palestine surrounding it. This land-locked country is considered an “oasis of stability” despite being in the Middle East region and very welcoming of refugees, especially from Syria and Palestine.

Although one of the smallest economy in the region, Jordan is attractive to foreign investors and a major tourist destination, specifically medical tourism due to its well-developed health sector.

Religion 

95 percent of the country’s population are Muslims, with Sunni Islam as the dominant religion. The rest are Shiites, Ahmadi Muslims, and a small number of Catholics. Interestingly, some of the oldest Catholic communities are found in Jordan, so you might be surprised to see few churches here and there.

Weather

Summer season is from May to September wherein it is hot and dry. Between July and August, temperature could go hotter and go up as high as 40 degrees Celsius. Winter is from November to March and scattered rain showers and snowfall occur during this season.

Language 

Arabic is the official language spoken in Jordan. Nonetheless, don’t worry that much since English is widely spoken as well, especially in education, commerce, and banking sector. Nonetheless, it won’t hurt to learn few Arabic words and phrases. TESDA offers free language courses and priority is given to OFWs, so make sure you take advantage of this benefit.

Working in Jordan 

Filipinos are the third highest number of foreign workers next to Egyptians and Sri Lankans. Most Filipinos working in Jordan belong in the fields of medicine, engineering, and service sector. Similar to other countries, Jordan requires a valid entry visa (always keep a photocopy with you at all times!) and passport with at least six months validity. To apply for Jordanian working permit, you must also submit completed application form and two passport photos.

Employment contract is valid for one year and will be subject to review thereafter.

Transportation 

You have to prepare your wallet on this one because the preferred mode of transportation is by cab, either those private yellow taxi or the country’s unique service taxi. Buses are available, but with fewer seats. If you want to go to your destination, then riding a cab is the best way to go, unless the place you’re heading to is just walking distance.

Safety

Demonstrations are common, especially if you will be assigned to work in Amman. Make sure to watch out for the schedule of demonstrations that will be carried out, which usually takes place on Fridays. Strict punishment is imposed on law violators, which explains why crimes like murder are unheard of. Nonetheless, there are still instances of pickpocketing, so make sure you take care of your belongings.

Food

Don’t be surprised if you’ll see lots of food being cooked in olive oil. Jordan is among the largest producers of olives in the world, thereby making it a staple in most households. Drinking coffee and tea are also part of their daily life.

The bottom line is there are many job opportunities available in Jordan. Go ahead and give it a try. Your future might be here.