A leading comprehensive assessment methodologically examines Jordan’s Maternity Insurance Fund and its effectiveness in reducing gender-based hiring discrimination and supporting female labour force participation

Background

Jordan has one of the lowest rates of female labour force participation both in the region and globally. The government introduced a maternity insurance fund under the Social Security Law (No. 7 of 2010) to alleviate employers’ costs for maternity leave. This fund provides maternity benefits through a 0.75% payroll contribution paid by employers, aiming to reduce gender-based hiring discrimination. The Social Security Corporation (SSC) reported an increase in beneficiaries from 9,524 in 2017 to 10,169 in 2018.  

To evaluate the fund’s impact, the International Labour Organization (ILO) commissioned Triangle to conduct an in-depth assessment, examining its influence on female workforce participation, employer attitudes, and overall effectiveness.

The Challenge

Despite the introduction of the maternity insurance fund, Jordan’s female labour force participation remains low. Understanding whether the fund has effectively reduced hiring discrimination and encouraged more women to enter and stay in the workforce is crucial. The assessment also needed to examine employer perspectives, identifying whether the policy has eased business concerns or introduced new challenges. Additionally, evaluating the fund’s long-term sustainability and potential areas for improvement was essential to strengthening its impact on women’s economic empowerment.

Our Approach

Triangle employed a rigorous mixed-method approach to assess the maternity insurance fund’s effectiveness: 

• Literature Review: Conducted a comprehensive review of existing policies, reports, and data to contextualize the research. 
• Inception Report: Developed a research framework, outlining methodologies, data collection tools, and sampling criteria. 
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): Engaged women who have used, not used, or intend to use the fund, as well as their spouses and employers, to gather first-hand experiences. 
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): Conducted structured interviews with experts, fund beneficiaries, employers, and representatives from SSC and ILO. 
• Media Outputs: Produced short and long videos, high-resolution images, and social media content to document key findings and raise awareness. 
• Data Triangulation: Combined survey results, interviews, and desk reviews to validate findings and ensure accuracy. 

Results and Impact

The pioneering assessment provided critical insights into the maternity insurance fund’s impact: 

• Encouraging Workforce Participation: Findings suggest that the fund has contributed to reducing some barriers for women in the workforce, though broader structural challenges remain. 
• Policy Recommendations: Based on the findings, recommendations were provided to enhance the fund’s effectiveness, coverage, and long-term sustainability. The study is now being used to encourage employers and women to embrace the fund. 

Looking Ahead

Triangle continues to champion gender protection and labour policy development by providing evidence-based insights that shape inclusive workforce strategies.