Calls for minimum wage hike in Jordan after doctor salary increase

The Jordanian Labor Observatory has urged the government to implement parallel measures following the recent increase in doctors’ wages, aiming to support low and middle-income workers in affording the new healthcare costs.

The observatory emphasized the need to raise the minimum wage to ensure citizens’ right to necessary healthcare.

Labor Observatory head Ahmed Awad stated that the government’s approval of the doctors’ wage increase over two and a half years necessitates an examination of its impact on patients and their families.

Speaking on Roya TV’s “Akhbar Al-Sa’a,” Awad noted that most workers in Jordan have low or middle incomes, with official figures indicating that about 56% of workers earn less than JD 500 monthly.

Awad asserted that the wage increase for doctors could affect Jordanians’ access to quality healthcare, calling for a re-governance of the healthcare sector to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.

Dr. Ziad Al-Zu’bi, the head of the Doctors’ Syndicate, refuted the notion that increasing doctors’ wages should be directly linked to raising the minimum wage.

He pointed out that while the minimum wage has increased by 70% since 2009, doctors’ fees have not seen a similar rise.

Al-Zu’bi noted that public sector and military doctors’ salaries have doubled due to various allowances and annual increments.

He explained that doctors receive 8-15% of the total medical bill for outpatient treatments and about 22% for inpatient treatments.

Al-Zu’bi assured that the increase in doctors’ wages would not adversely affect citizens.

Context and Statistics
In 2009, the minimum wage was JD 145, which has now risen to JD 260, reflecting a 70% increase.

Despite this, doctors’ wages have remained largely stagnant. Public sector and military doctors have seen their salaries increase by up to 100% due to technical and annual allowances.

Awad highlighted that the majority of Jordanian workers fall within the low to middle-income brackets, reinforcing the need for wage adjustments to maintain healthcare affordability.

The observatory’s call for a minimum wage increase aims to balance the financial burdens on citizens amidst rising healthcare costs.