Position Paper: Parental Leave in Jordan and its Impact on the Economic Integration of Women

This paper is part of a series titled “Towards Inclusive Participation of Vulnerable Women and People with Disabilities in the Social and Economic Life”. The project was implemented by the Social Justice pillar, the West Asia-North Africa Institute (WANA) and supported by IM Swedish Development Partner in the Middle East.

The project sought to impart essential research skills and tools to twenty-four male and female trainees to enable them to advocate for issues of interest to marginalised women and persons with disabilities. It culminated with trainees drafting policy papers pertaining to social and economic issues facing these populations.

The paper presents a definition and an overview of the parental leave in Jordan and concludes with applicable recommendations that match the Jordanian society’s values, laws and customs reducing gender inequality and facilitating the integration of women into the economic life, on the long and short-terms.