UPDATE ON GOJ STEPS TO ADDRESS QIZ LABOR ISSUES

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