AMMAN - The National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) and the Electricity Workers Union on Thursday signed an agreement ending a month-long dispute over employee salaries, a NEPCO official said on Saturday.
On July 22, NEPCO workers started negotiations with the company after reaching an initial settlement suspending a sit-in scheduled for the same day.
Under Thursday's agreement, NEPCO agreed to increase employees' monthly salaries by JD30 to alleviate the rising cost of living and provide an additional JD30 per month for skilled workers without university degrees, NEPCO Director General Ahmad Hiasat told The Jordan Times on Saturday.
Furthermore, the agreement raised workers' family allowances from JD30 to JD40 a month and increased allowances for on-site workers by 20 per cent.
Hiasat stressed that the agreement comes as part of NEPCO's commitment to enhance its employees' living conditions, expressing hope that the deal will motivate workers and improve their productivity.
Jamal Jarrar, secretary general of the union's distribution branch, said negotiations between the union and NEPCO board members have led to a settlement that meets the workers' requirements.
He noted that the deal was the result of extensive talks and negotiations between union members and NEPCO, adding that Thursday's outcome is in the best interest of both the company and its employees.
By Hani Hazaimeh
© Jordan Times 2008
