Corruption and Organized Crime Plague Jordan’s Private Sector

The concept of “wasta” or favouritism has long been a part of Jordanian culture, where building relationships is key to getting ahead. However, this emphasis on personal connections has created an environment ripe for corruption in the private sector.

Leadership and Governance

Despite being considered a stable country compared to its neighbours, Jordan is not immune to corruption. The government has taken steps to address the issue, but nepotism and lack of accountability remain significant problems.

• High taxes and low salaries have led to a loss of trust in the government.
• Limited access to information hampers anti-organized crime efforts.
• Personal connections are relied upon to access public services.

Criminal Justice and Security

Jordan’s civilian courts are viewed as transparent and procedurally sound, but inefficiencies lead to a significant backlog of cases. Allegations of special interests and nepotism affecting the independence of the judiciary persist, while tribalism plays a significant role in judicial proceedings.

• Reports of torture in prisons, particularly against political dissidents, have emerged.
• Overcrowding remains a major issue in Jordan’s prison system.
• Rehabilitation over punishment has been introduced, but progress is slow.

Economic and Financial Environment

Jordan’s economy is struggling with high levels of debt, unemployment, and poverty, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The informal sector constitutes a significant proportion of the country’s economy due to high taxes, leading to increased taxation pressure on formal sector businesses.

• Measures have been taken to monitor financial institutions and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Challenges such as a budget deficit, trade account deficit, public debt, and high youth unemployment persist.

Civil Society and Social Protection

Jordan’s victim and witness protection schemes are not effectively enforced, with several shortcomings including a lack of evidence gathering, interpretation issues, and perpetrators beyond the reach of the police.

• Victims of organized crime and witnesses are still treated poorly.
• Efforts to combat human trafficking have been hampered by poor treatment of victims.

Conclusion

Corruption and organized crime remain significant challenges in Jordan’s private sector. The country’s emphasis on personal connections has created an environment where those with the right wasta can exploit the system for personal gain.

To address these issues, reforms are needed to ensure a more level playing field for all businesses, greater transparency and accountability in government activities, and measures to root out nepotism and lack of accountability. Only then can Jordan hope to build a more stable and prosperous future.