Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT766
2005-05-11 13:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN APPOINTS -- NOT ELECTS -- ILO DELEGATION

Tags:  ELAB ETRD KMPI PREL ECON PHUM PGOV MU 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000766 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, DRL (JDEMARIA),NEA/PI (SFRANCESKI)
STATE PASS USTR FOR B. CLATANOFF
USDOL FOR JIM SHEA
ABU DHABI FOR MEPI
US MISSION GENEVA FOR JCHAMBERLIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD KMPI PREL ECON PHUM PGOV MU
SUBJECT: OMAN APPOINTS -- NOT ELECTS -- ILO DELEGATION

REF: MUSCAT 534

-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000766

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, DRL (JDEMARIA),NEA/PI (SFRANCESKI)
STATE PASS USTR FOR B. CLATANOFF
USDOL FOR JIM SHEA
ABU DHABI FOR MEPI
US MISSION GENEVA FOR JCHAMBERLIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD KMPI PREL ECON PHUM PGOV MU
SUBJECT: OMAN APPOINTS -- NOT ELECTS -- ILO DELEGATION

REF: MUSCAT 534

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. In an unexpected turn of events on May 4, the Minister of
Manpower retreated from promised committee-wide elections and
instead personally appointed a National Committee to
represent Omani labor interests at the International Labor
Organization (ILO) Conference in June. Disappointed,
workers' representatives nonetheless continue to network with
newly established committees throughout the country to
provide mutual support and identify challenges ahead. In
addition to requests to us for technical assistance on a
variety of basic topics, the committees have also expressed
concerns with ambiguities in the 2003 Labor Law.
Representatives have formally requested the Manpower Ministry
to provide clarification on protections for employees taking
part in committee activities, how the committees are to
operate, and future plans for the now-revised National
Committee. End summary.

--------------
NO TIME FOR ELECTIONS
--------------


2. On May 4, Manpower Minister Juma bin Ali bin Jumaa,
citing time pressures, canceled the plan for national
elections this month to select a National Committee to
represent Omani labor interests at the International Labor
Organization (ILO) Conference beginning May 31. This
unexpected decision to appoint the National Committee instead
comes just weeks after the Minister, in consultations with
Deputy Under Secretary for Labor Arnold Levine, reiterated
his firm commitment to hold committee-wide elections by
mid-May to form Oman's first elected delegation for
representation at the ILO (reftel). Worker representatives
who were fervently hoping for national elections by May 4 are
frustrated with the appointments and concerned that the new
committee may not adequately represent worker interests at
the ILO. They are particularly troubled that human resource

managers from some of Oman's largest companies, including
Omantel and Port Services Corporation, hold 8 of the 11 seats
on the committee. (Note: Human resource managers are seen by
many rank-and-file members as essentially representing
management, rather than labor, interests. End note.) The
following 11 individuals were appointed to the new National
Committee for a term of two years:

Abd al-Azim bin Abbas al-Bahrani
Director of Human Resources Omantel

Sa'ud bin Ali Abdulla al-Jabri
Engineer, Petroleum Development Oman Co.

Muhammad bin Abdulla Rashid al-Rasbi
Engineer, Oman Air

Anwar bin Abd al-Rahman al-Khinjari
Director of Human Resources, Muscat Intercontinental Hotel

Nabhan bin Ahmad Muhammad al-Battashi
General Affairs Officer, Grand Hyatt Muscat

Sa'ud bin Ahmed Abd al-Karim al-Nahari
Executive President of Port Services Corporation, Port Sultan
Qaboos

Muhammad Hamad Salim al-Ruzaiqi
General Manager of Human Resources, Galfar Engineering

Muhammad bin Khamis bin Ghaloum al-Khabouri
Assistant Human Resources Manager, Al Hasan Group of
Companies

Rashid bin Sa'id Abdulla al-Hashmi
Personnel Manager, Sa'ud Bahwan Group of Companies

Abd al-Mahdi bin Abd al-Baqi al-Lawati
Personnel Manager, Al Zubair Group of Companies

Abdulla bin Salim Sa'id al-Araimi
Manager of Human Resources, Suhail Bahwan Group of Companies

--------------
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
--------------

3. Cognizant of the challenges that lay before them, worker
representatives continue to network with newly established
committees throughout the country to support one another and
identify challenges ahead. Representatives have expressed
particular interest in learning more about committee
experiences in the region and welcome any opportunity to meet
with counterparts from Bahrain and Jordan. They are keen to
participate in workshops or seminars that would cover such
fundamentals as the basics of committee establishment,
charter development, methods of operation, and ensuring
committee financial solvency. Avenues for assistance have
been highlighted in all facets of organized labor and
represent significant opportunities for developing long-term
relationships with organizations such as the AFL-CIO, the
Solidarity Center, the Middle East Partnership Initiative
(MEPI),and the Department of Labor (DOL).


4. In addition to their requests for technical assistance,
the committees have also expressed concerns with what they
say is ambiguity in the 2003 Labor Law. Lead representatives
from the committees have formally requested that the Ministry
of Manpower provide further clarification in the following
areas:

NATIONAL COMMITTEE - How and when will the National Committee
will be elected? Where will its premises be? What will be
its exact duties? Will members of the Committee's
administrative body serve full-time?

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - What technical assistance needs have
been identified at the MOM and how and when will assistance
be offered?

EMPLOYEE PROTECTION - Will the MOM establish a mechanism to
provide protection to members of representation committees
against arbitrary dismissal as a result of their committee
activities?

FUNDING - What avenues are available for committees to
collect contributions for the representation committees and
the National Committee? Moreover, will companies be expected
to facilitate contributions by employees and/or provide
support during a committee's establishment?

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


5. Sending an elected delegation to the ILO in June would
have been a significant and ambitious development in labor
relations in Oman. The general feeling among disappointed
committee members is that the elections were an opportunity
lost at a crucial point. Recognizing the challenges that lay
ahead, both within the nascent committees and at the equally
inexperienced Ministry of Manpower, representatives
nonetheless continue to be proactive in soliciting support
for technical assistance to learn about labor experiences in
the region and in laying the foundation for stronger and more
effective representation in the future.
BALTIMORE