AMMAN — The Jordan Media Commission’s recent reminder to news outlets to confirm the legal status of domestic worker recruitment offices before publishing any advertisements has provoked reactions among economic observers, who argue that unchecked informal labour continues to distort parts of the services economy.

 

The directive also instructed outlets not to promote daily domestic help services unless they first consult the Ministry of Labour. For many stakeholders, this reflects growing concern about the expansion of unregulated labour channels.

 

Economic analyst Yousef Suboh said, “The directive is a necessary response to a sector that has suffered from prolonged regulatory shortcomings.”

 

He explained that the reliance on informal domestic labour has increased because many households choose cheaper, unlicensed alternatives.

 

While these options reduce short-term expenses, he said they generate deeper economic problems by lowering government revenue, weakening the official recruitment market and raising the likelihood of labour abuses.

 

Suboh noted that improving compliance will not fully resolve the pressures shaping the market. He pointed out that “the fees imposed by licensed agencies have grown steadily, pushing many families to seek informal arrangements.”

 

He said the Commission’s directive is a constructive step, but wider economic conditions will need attention to achieve sustainable change.

 

Owner of a licensed recruitment office, Amer R., welcomed the announcement, saying that the industry has long faced unfair competition from unregistered operators. He explained that “licensed agencies bear significant financial and administrative obligations tied to regulation, while illegal brokers avoid these requirements.”

 

This disparity, he argued, has reduced the revenue of compliant businesses and placed them at a competitive disadvantage. He added that households using unlicensed services may face hidden risks, including legal issues, which eventually create broader economic costs.