Nayrouz News Agency : The government has decided to extend the work stoppage for ministries and public departments as of Saturday, May 2, until the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh announced on Sunday.

Speaking during a press briefing at the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management, Adaileh said that the decision excludes vital public sectors, noting that the sectors excluded from the work stoppage will be determined by the concerned minister.

Work will be conducted with no more than 30 per cent of employees in most sectors and up to 50 per cent in vital sectors in a manner that ensures that essential services continue to be provided to citizens and work is sustained in accordance with public health and safety requirements, the minister said.

The decision also excludes vital private sectors, which are determined in accordance with the Defence Orders, as well as institutions in the banking sector that are permitted to work under the decision of the governor of the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), in addition to the health sector, both public and private.

The Cabinet on Sunday decided that the Treasury will bear the interests of loans, or part of loans, that the CBJ has extended to coronavirus-affected small- and medium-sized enterprises to finance their payrolls, Adaileh said.

The minister noted that, upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Transport and specialised teams, the government has decided to resume the work of the transport sector at a rate of no more than 50 per cent as of Wednesday across the Kingdom.

The minister added that authorities will revoke the permit of any institution that does not abide by health measures and shut it down.

Commenting on restaurants and pastry shops, Adaileh said that establishments that met government requirements have resumed their work via delivery or take-out.

The Ministry of Tourism has developed a hotline at 91040 to report any violations of preventive health measures, he said, highlighting that work is under way to grant permits to the remaining restaurants and shops that meet the condition for resuming work. 

Also speaking during the briefing, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri said that price limits will be set for goods in markets and wholesale centres, warning that strict measures will be taken against violators.

He also announced that permitted trade and industrial sectors will be allowed to operate at 60 per cent capacity, while industrial sectors may work an additional night shift at 40 per cent capacity.