Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1046
2006-07-02 12:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

ILO DELIVERS WORKSHOP ON FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

Tags:  ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM MU 
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Patrick X Disney 07/03/2006 01:58:26 PM From DB/Inbox: Patrick X 
Disney

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS MUSCAT 01046

SIPDIS
MUSCATCX:
 ACTION: POLE
 INFO: OMC DAO DCM AMB PAO POLM

DISSEMINATION: POLE
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:GGRAPPO
DRAFTED: POLE:CPLATH
CLEARED: POLE: MSNOWDEN

VZCZCATI921
RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHGV RUEHC
DE RUEHMS #1046 1831242
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021242Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6824
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0113
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001046 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND DRL
STATE PASS USTR FOR J. BUNTIN, A. ROSENBERG, AND L. KARESH
DOL FOR J. SHEA, B. SHEPARD, AND J. RUDE
US MISSION GENEVA FOR LABOR ATTACHE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM MU
SUBJECT: ILO DELIVERS WORKSHOP ON FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING


-------
SUMMARY
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UNCLAS MUSCAT 001046

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND DRL
STATE PASS USTR FOR J. BUNTIN, A. ROSENBERG, AND L. KARESH
DOL FOR J. SHEA, B. SHEPARD, AND J. RUDE
US MISSION GENEVA FOR LABOR ATTACHE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM MU
SUBJECT: ILO DELIVERS WORKSHOP ON FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING


--------------
SUMMARY
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1. A three-day workshop entitled "Freedom of Association and
Social Dialogue" began July 1 for members of Oman's 43
representative committees, educating them on the role of
labor unions. Experts from the International Labor
Organization (ILO),the Arab Labor Organization (ALO) and
from other Gulf labor unions will facilitate the various
sessions on social dialogue, collective bargaining, and right
to strike. End Summary.

-------------- --------------
Workshop to Educate Workers on Collective Bargaining
-------------- --------------


2. Oman's national umbrella labor organization, the Main
Representative Committee (MRC),with its co-sponsor the Arab
Labor Organization (ALO),began a three-day workshop July 1
for Omani union members to learn about international concepts
and practices of collective bargaining, the right to strike,
and enhancing freedom of union organization. Over 100
employers, employees, and government officials from the
committees, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM),the Arab Labor
Organization (ALO),and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (OCCI) attended the opening ceremony on July 1.
Speaking at the opening were MRC President Abd al-Athim Abbas
and Assistant Director General of the ALO, Khalid bin Abd
al-Wahab al-Balushi.


3. The Under Secretary of Manpower, Sayyid Hamad bin Hilal
al-Busa'idi, told the audience that workshops such as these
are part of the government's overall goal to "update labor
criteria and modernize labor legislation in line with the
international and Arab labor agreements and conventions." He
praised the MRC's efforts to raise awareness about the duties
and rights of workers in accordance with international labor
standards.


4. Vice President of the MRC, Saud bin Ali al-Jabri, told
reporters that while the MRC has been active in
skills-building and outreach, he hopes to see more tangible
achievements in the next year. Al-Jabri said that the
establishment of workers' committees and the MRC ensures that
there will be somebody who is going to "stand and represent
those workers whose rights are not considered or are violated
by employers."

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COMMENT
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5. Although the MRC has performed significant outreach to
employers and committees, this is the first workshop
organized by the MRC with the explicit goal of educating
workers on international practices for collective bargaining
and striking. The workshops will provide a much needed
foundation and boost for the committees as decrees from the
MOM on these topics are issued over the coming four months,
in keeping with Oman's Free Trade Agreement commitments to
the U.S. Congress.
GRAPPO