Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN1129
2006-02-16 07:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
PROJECT PROPOSAL FROM IOM JORDAN TO REPATRIATE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #1129 0470716 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 160716Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8206
UNCLAS AMMAN 001129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
G/TIP FOR NEUMANN; PRM FOR DENTZEL; ALSO FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG JO
SUBJECT: PROJECT PROPOSAL FROM IOM JORDAN TO REPATRIATE
DOMESTIC WORKERS
UNCLAS AMMAN 001129
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
G/TIP FOR NEUMANN; PRM FOR DENTZEL; ALSO FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG JO
SUBJECT: PROJECT PROPOSAL FROM IOM JORDAN TO REPATRIATE
DOMESTIC WORKERS
1. Fernando Arocena of the International Organization for
Migration (IOM)'s Jordan Office approached post with a
repatriation project proposaQfor female foreign domestic
workers (FDWs) stranded in Jordan, and a request that the USG
consider funding it. Embassy Amman endorses this proposal.
Details follow:
- Cost: $200,000.
- Impact: approximately 200 trafficked domestic workers
repatriated.
- Per worker cost will vary depending on airfare and size of
lump sum disbursal reintegration grant (when appropriate) to
help the worker partially recover unpaid wages. The cost is
estimated at a base of $700 per worker, with approximately
$300 head room.
- In order to benefit, the migrant worker women must have
entered Jordan legally, prior to 2003, and have worked as a
housekeeper.
- They must currently be unemployed.
- They must not have any court cases pending in Jordan.
- They must wish to return to their country of origin
voluntarily, but be without the resources to do so.
2. Success of the project will allow the Ministry of Labor
and the Ministry of the Interior to take ownership for
tackling the problem of trafficked domestic workers. In the
current situation, it is unclear who is responsible for these
stranded workers. The GOJ introduced standardized contracts
for domestic workers in the past two years, ensuring that
there is a responsible sponsor for any FDW that has arrived
in Jordan since that time. This project, therefore, would
wipe the slate clean for the GOJ. If the project succeeds,
the ministries will have a fresh start to address FDW issues.
3. IOM proposes that the project last only six months. This
time frame will be sufficient to repatriate nearly all of the
eligible women, and will build capacity and raise awareness
with the relevant ministries in the GOJ without becoming a
permanent solution to the problem of stranded FDWs.
4. According to Arocena, Jordan's Ministry of Labor has
agreed to the project, and IOM will work with the Ministry of
the Interior to waive the workers' overstay fines once the
project is implemented. It is these fines that effectively
trap many domestic workers in Jordan.
5. IOM will handle all of the substantive work of the
project. They will identify the cases, assist in the
procurement of travel documents, and arrange all of the
transportation needs.
6. Arocena mentioned that he is approaching other Western
embassies for funding, and is agreeable to an offer of
partial sponsorship from USG.
7. IOM Jordan will ask IOM Washington to forward a concept
paper to G/TIP and PRM. Additionally, Arocena will draft a
full project summary within the next 10 days.
8. Comment: Post believes the proposal has strong merit. We
have worked closely with IOM here. The plight of female
domestic workers in Jordan is a recurring and prominent item
on the agenda of our discussions with senior GOJ officials.
HALE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
G/TIP FOR NEUMANN; PRM FOR DENTZEL; ALSO FOR NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN ELAB SMIG JO
SUBJECT: PROJECT PROPOSAL FROM IOM JORDAN TO REPATRIATE
DOMESTIC WORKERS
1. Fernando Arocena of the International Organization for
Migration (IOM)'s Jordan Office approached post with a
repatriation project proposaQfor female foreign domestic
workers (FDWs) stranded in Jordan, and a request that the USG
consider funding it. Embassy Amman endorses this proposal.
Details follow:
- Cost: $200,000.
- Impact: approximately 200 trafficked domestic workers
repatriated.
- Per worker cost will vary depending on airfare and size of
lump sum disbursal reintegration grant (when appropriate) to
help the worker partially recover unpaid wages. The cost is
estimated at a base of $700 per worker, with approximately
$300 head room.
- In order to benefit, the migrant worker women must have
entered Jordan legally, prior to 2003, and have worked as a
housekeeper.
- They must currently be unemployed.
- They must not have any court cases pending in Jordan.
- They must wish to return to their country of origin
voluntarily, but be without the resources to do so.
2. Success of the project will allow the Ministry of Labor
and the Ministry of the Interior to take ownership for
tackling the problem of trafficked domestic workers. In the
current situation, it is unclear who is responsible for these
stranded workers. The GOJ introduced standardized contracts
for domestic workers in the past two years, ensuring that
there is a responsible sponsor for any FDW that has arrived
in Jordan since that time. This project, therefore, would
wipe the slate clean for the GOJ. If the project succeeds,
the ministries will have a fresh start to address FDW issues.
3. IOM proposes that the project last only six months. This
time frame will be sufficient to repatriate nearly all of the
eligible women, and will build capacity and raise awareness
with the relevant ministries in the GOJ without becoming a
permanent solution to the problem of stranded FDWs.
4. According to Arocena, Jordan's Ministry of Labor has
agreed to the project, and IOM will work with the Ministry of
the Interior to waive the workers' overstay fines once the
project is implemented. It is these fines that effectively
trap many domestic workers in Jordan.
5. IOM will handle all of the substantive work of the
project. They will identify the cases, assist in the
procurement of travel documents, and arrange all of the
transportation needs.
6. Arocena mentioned that he is approaching other Western
embassies for funding, and is agreeable to an offer of
partial sponsorship from USG.
7. IOM Jordan will ask IOM Washington to forward a concept
paper to G/TIP and PRM. Additionally, Arocena will draft a
full project summary within the next 10 days.
8. Comment: Post believes the proposal has strong merit. We
have worked closely with IOM here. The plight of female
domestic workers in Jordan is a recurring and prominent item
on the agenda of our discussions with senior GOJ officials.
HALE