Minister of Justice Dr. Bassam Talhouni emphasized that recent amendments to the Penal Code and the Enforcement Law are part of a comprehensive reform vision balancing rights protection with a fair legal framework to promote economic and social stability.
At a panel organized by the Amman Chamber of Industry titled “Lifting Criminal Protection from Cheques,” Talhouni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the private sector by providing balanced legislation and legal tools that uphold rights without excessive burdens. He stressed the amendments aim to restore confidence in commercial dealings by addressing misuse of debt instruments while safeguarding creditor rights and human dignity.
Talhouni noted that a minimum of six months is necessary to assess the amendments’ real impact on businesses and individuals, emphasizing ongoing dialogue between public and private sectors. He underscored that changes followed extensive expert consultations and respond to challenges undermining trust in commercial transactions.
The Minister also referenced broader legal reform efforts including updates to the Enforcement Law, Personal Data Protection Law, and digital innovations like creditworthiness assessment apps to facilitate informed financial decisions.
Engineer Fathi Jaghbir, President of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry, shared that the chambers have worked to help companies adapt to the legal shift following the removal of criminal protection from cheques. He announced a forthcoming position paper with recommendations to protect cheque users’ rights, to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
Panel participants included senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation, Association of Banks, CRIF Jordan, and finance supervision authorities.
Key recommendations from the session called for:
- Enhancing civil debt collection and enforcement systems
- Promoting digital payments as cheque alternatives
- Utilizing credit scoring to assess repayment ability
- Modernizing insolvency laws for individuals and companies
- Encouraging negotiation, arbitration, and insurance for default risks
Positive effects identified include improved liquidity, reduced misuse of cheques, and development of modern collection mechanisms. However, concerns remain regarding liquidity challenges for sectors dependent on postdated sales, increased non-payment risk, declining cheque trust, and slow legal enforcement.
Participants stressed urgent reforms such as credit evaluation promotion, Enforcement Law modernization toward non-custodial frameworks, expanded data access for credit information companies, and drafting civil insolvency legislation.
The session concluded with a call for coordinated legal and economic reforms to foster financial stability and modern commercial practices in Jordan.
