Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AMMAN5595
2006-07-25 13:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

UPDATE ON GOJ STEPS TO ADDRESS QIZ LABOR ISSUES

Tags:  ELAB ETRD PHUM GTIP KTEX JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0655
PP RUEHBI
DE RUEHAM #5595/01 2061324
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251324Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2612
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0105
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 2522
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0112
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0088
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0204
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0087
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 3992
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0038
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 0047
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005595 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR
STATE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PHUM GTIP KTEX JO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON GOJ STEPS TO ADDRESS QIZ LABOR ISSUES

REF: AMMAN 4774 AND PREVIOUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005595

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR
STATE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PHUM GTIP KTEX JO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON GOJ STEPS TO ADDRESS QIZ LABOR ISSUES

REF: AMMAN 4774 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Jordan signed an agreement with the
International Finance Corporation (IFC) that in early 2007
should begin assisting with capacity building in the
Ministry of Labor (MOL) and enhance a program of corporate
social responsibility in the Qualifying Industrial Zones.
The MOL appointed a director of combined labor and
health/safety inspection team. Embassy is pressing the
Ministry of Interior on its follow-up to cases of alleged
abuse at garment factories. Modest USG resources now could
help the GOJ get moving more quickly, and bridge the gap
until IFC resources kick in and USG agencies are in
discussions on finalizing some level of assistance.
END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) In an important step toward a medium-term solution
to its QIZ labor problems, the GOJ signed July 17 an
agreement
with the IFC that will set the stage for direct talks between
the MoL and the International Labor Organization ILO to
establish a training program for an expanded MoL inspector
force some time in early 2007. MoL contacts state that
planning meetings on the new program will start by the
beginning of August. The appointment July 16 of Dr. Amin
Al-Wreidat to head a joint labor and safety/health
inspectorate appears to be a positive development. (COMMENT:
The MoL inspection office had been associated with an
old-think mentality and the culture of a "government desk job
for all" of a previous era. END COMMENT.) A Bengali-speaking
medical doctor from Zarqa trained in Bangladesh and with an
MSc in occupational health, Amin has a reputation within the
ministry as a hard-working, fair and effective manager. In
addition, MoL has issued want ads for speakers of the
languages used by foreign workers in the QIZs to staff MoL
hot lines so a foreign worker with any type of problem will
have someone to contact.

Fourth Wave of Inspections
--------------


3. (SBU) The fourth round of MoL inspections of all 114
QIZ factories known to the Ministry of Labor began on July
2 and ended last week. Based on earlier inspection reports
and other evidence from Bangladeshi workers, the Ministry

began the process of moving workers from the worst
factories at the end of June. To date, 821 workers have
transferred from 11 factories to six Golden List factories
and to another five that the MoL believes have acceptable
labor records. NOTE: MoL process in determining who
qualifies for the Golden List is not completely transparent.
END NOTE. The MoL moved another 38 Bangladeshi workers
held in Qafqafa jail on immigration overstay charges to the
MF Textiles factory in the Ad Dulayl QIZ. The Bangladesh
embassy has been involved in these movements and reports
that most workers are satisfied; about 30-40 expressed
displeasure that they had no choice and the MoL agreed to
settle them in another factory in the same QIZ where they
had come from.


4. (SBU) A small MoL office responsible for QIZs is
attempting to move another 600 workers 350 from "bad"
factories and another 250 who are illegal aliens after
fleeing abusive employers or sub-contractors that closed
down. Post will fax a list of the movements to NEA/ELA.
(COMMENT: Essentially a one-person shop supplemented by
a few spare employees added at the time of movements,
this MoL office is not staying on schedule due to lack
of time and resources. Before the workers are moved,
the MoL office is rightly checking the
new location to see that dorms, food, health and safety
matters are all being attended to. Interim crises in the
form of work stoppages interrupt this work. END COMMENT.)


5. (U) An MoL ban on visas for foreign workers remains in
place. The Golden List of 14 companies allowed to secure
visas (most due to their good records on labor, health and
safety; a few due to placing a deposit in excess of
$100,000) is operating smoothly according to industry

AMMAN 00005595 002 OF 002


sources. Production continues on schedule in many of these
factories that also employ large numbers of Jordanians. An
MoL committee including industry representation (reftel) is
considering adding five more companies to the Golden
List.

Ministry of Interior: Follow-up Uncertain
--------------


6. (SBU) In a July 5 call on the Public Security
Directorate with A/RSO, emboffs passed to the PSD
information office a full set of NLC reports on abuses in
Jordan, noting they included a range of allegations of
abuse, beatings, forced deportation, violent behavior,
sexual harassment, and rape. When asked about a mid-May
suicide by an Indian garment worker in a factory in Al
Hassan QIZ that had been carried in the press, the PSD
official
accessed a computerized case file on the incident. The
PSD official commented that the case had not been closed but
did not appear to note anything other than a suicide.
Emboffs stressed the importance of evaluating the
allegations of abuse QIZ by QIZ, just as the Ministry of
Labor had done. The PSD official claimed that it was
difficult to prosecute a case if the complainant were (a)
not in the country, or (b) not prepared to come forward to
file an official complaint. Emboffs also made a point of
stressing that an individual foreign worker's
control/possession of a passport was a critical piece of
evidence that police investigations needed to take into
account, explaining the international standard for
involuntary servitude.

NLC Update
--------------


7. (SBU) In a July 17 update report, the NLC alleged
abuses by the Western factory in Al Hassan QIZ, including
long overtime hours, underpayment of wages, and threats by
gang members. The MoL had informed post of this ongoing
case on July 16 which involves non-payment of three months
wages, and failure to provide work and residence permits.
According to the Bangladesh embassy, which had also been
following the case, about 110 Bangladeshis staged a work
stoppage on July 16 to protest their low wages (85 JD
instead of the minimum 95 JD),mandatory overtime of 11
hours per day, and the owner's failure to credit them the
full overtime wage. The Bangladesh embassy received
unconfirmed reports that the police attempted to bring in
three of the Bangladeshi workers for questioning and a
scuffle ensued. Police accompanied the three to jail but
later released them, according to the Bangladesh embassy,
which advised the 110 workers to stay in their dorms until
the matter could be resolved. The Ministry of Labor QIZ
office told emboff July 18 that it is following this case
closely and will move the workers to a new factory if need
be.


8. (SBU) Jordan,s Cabinet July 19 approved additional
funding for the Ministry of Labor for 100 positions in the
Ministry,s inspection unit as well as 20 additional cars.
As the Ministry,s Secretary General told emboffs on July 20,
that the Labor Ministry "has the will from the Cabinet to
support the Ministry of Labor" on the foreign labor issue.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: While the addition of new resources to
the QIZ labor problem will assist with its resolution over
the mid- to long-term, post is pressing the GoJ to devote
more resources to the immediate problems. In addition, USG
agencies are exploring the financial resources available to
fund a short-term program of independent inspectors. Dr.
Amin's
appointment is a sign the Ministry of Labor is turning
around. But we should be under no illusions that the
Ministry of Labor since late June (reftel) has gained an
understanding of the full problem or has charted a
comprehensive way forward.
Hale