PM issues Circulars No. 49, 50 on regulating work of restaurants, violating establishments

AMMAN — Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh on Monday issued Circulars No. 49 and 50 of 2021, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Circular No. 49 regulates the work of restaurants, cafes and hotels authorised to serve hookah. 

According to the circular, restaurants, cafes and hotel establishments are allowed to serve hookah, provided that they are authorised to do so by the relevant authorities.

The stipulated establishments shall abide by the provisions of the defence orders, circulars and instructions related to public safety, work protocols and preventive measures decided by the Ministry of Labour and approved by the Ministry of Health. 

This includes the provision to not allow entry of any person in such establishments unless permitted by the Sanad application. 

Violating facilities will be penalised with a fine of JD1,000 for the first violation, which will triple to JD3,000 for the second violation and JD5,000 for the third violation, the circular stipulated, adding that the facility will be closed in the event of a repeat violation.

The prime minister may amend any of the provisions of this circular effective as of its date.

In regard to Circular No. 50, it comes as an amendment to Circular No. 32, which allows violating facilities to reopen, provided that their violations are corrected.