Jordan has become a top destination for skilled garment workers from Bangladesh. Hundreds of Bangladeshi women are finding employment in the kingdom’s clothing sector every week. Bangladesh started exporting skilled garment workers to Jordan in 2010. Jordan’s garment industry has expanded rapidly in the past few years, and two-thirds of Bangladeshi female workers in the kingdom now find employment at its clothing factories. The Jordanian garment sector currently employs 40,000 Bangladeshi women.

Demand for Bangladeshi labor has been on the rise since the lifting of coronavirus restrictions. In 2020, the kingdom accepted only about 3,700 garment workers from Bangladesh but this year more than 12,300 have already left for the Middle Eastern country. Jordanian employers bear all the costs of processing working permits, travel, accommodation and healthcare. The employer bears all costs to have the migrants’ services. For workers higher incomes are also a factor. And they find the working environment and salary structure much better than in Bangladesh. They earn more and don’t have to face abuse.

Jordan’s garment industry has been spared the worst effects of the pandemic, proving to be relatively resilient in its adaptability to new market trends. The economic downturn in Jordan’s garment industry has only had a 15 per cent reduction in garment exports and a full rebound is expected by the end of 2021.