JORDANIAN LABOR MINISTRY OPENS NEW OFFICE FOR

UNCLAS AMMAN 002575 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ELAB PHUM JO SUBJECT: JORDANIAN LABOR MINISTRY OPENS NEW OFFICE FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKER ISSUES ¶1. (SBU) Jordan's Ministry of Labor will open an office to integrate many of the governmental procedures that relate to foreign domestic workers (FDWs). According to the Ministry's Secretary General, Majed al Habashneh, the new office will SIPDIS handle requests from recruiting agents for work and residency permits, and would be the primary point of contact for disputes between agents and employers. Habashneh, at poloff's suggestion, will also incorporate a dedicated phone line for receiving abuse/maltreatment complaints from FDWs. Habashneh said he will direct the Ministry to make changes to the credit card-sized work permit to include this new phone number as a handy reference for troubled FDWs. ¶2. (SBU) Yousef Shaban, a long-time labor inspector at the Ministry will head the new department. The office will be located in the Ministry's former headquarters in the Abdali section of Amman. HALE