Jordanian retired workers demand pension

Jordanian security forces foiled an attempted attack targeting the Prime Minister’s office from retired workers in Phosphate Mines Company. Sources said clashes broke out in front of the Prime Minister's office. The retired workers were on their 36th day on strike. The spokesman for retired workers Khalid Sharem said: "We will carry on striking until we get a response to our demands." He said the company’s administration refuse to negotiate with the workers. The workers attempted to enter the Prime Minister’s office to meet him and make an official complaint. The state minister for presidential affairs Novan Al-Ajrama met with the workers on strike and asked them to suspend their strike to allow the presidency time to study their demands from a legislative perspective. Strikers are demanding their pension since 2000 which the company promised their workers when the financial situation gets better. There are 4000 retired workers in the company. The company’s executive director Emad El-Madada told Arabstoday: "The retired workers don’t have any legal rights. We’ve told them if they really feel that we have been unfair, they should raise the issue with the court and not strike." "The number of retired workers who are asking for retirement payments according to the company regulations 2011 are about 4500 workers. They are asking for 1,000 Dinars for each working year.”