AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW LABOR MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 007002 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR NEA, NEA/ARN, G/TIP AND DRL; LABOR PASS TO ILAB: LILI STERN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2013 TAGS: PGOV ELAB PHUM JO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW LABOR MINISTER Classified By: Ambassador E. Gnehm for reason 1.5 d ¶1. (U) Ambasador, economic counselor and PolOff made an October 28 courtesy call on newly sworn-in Labor Minister Amjad al-Majali (biographic info septel). A former diplomat and long-term contact of the embassy, Minister Majali has been in office for four days and is new to his portfolio, but looks forward to continued cooperation with the U.S., particularly on poverty alleviation. ¶2. (U) The Ambassador raised the importance of the Qualified Industrial Zones to job creation and the Ministry's key role in enforcing labor standards. He also expressed appreciation for Ministry efforts in cooperation with the ILO to combat child labor. Participants also briefly discussed the Ministry's steps to protect foreign domestic workers in Jordan. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: Majali, a political insider from the powerful Majali family of Kerak, displayed little knowlege of his portfolio. However, he appears willing to address USG concerns on labor standards, child labor, and trafficking in persons (although he needs to get up to speed first). GNEHM