Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1573
2006-11-08 13:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMAN ISSUES ADDITIONAL LABOR REGULATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO3274 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMS #1573 3121320 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081320Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7384 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0124 RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001573
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI (S. FRANCESKI AND B.
ORBACH),DRL (A. ANZALDUA)
DEPARTMENT PASS USTR FOR J. BUNTIN AND A. ROSENBERG
DOL FOR J. SHEA, B. SHEPARD AND J. RUDE
US MISSION GENEVA FOR LABOR ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD KMPI PGOV PHUM MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ISSUES ADDITIONAL LABOR REGULATIONS
REF: MUSCAT 1565
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001573
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI (S. FRANCESKI AND B.
ORBACH),DRL (A. ANZALDUA)
DEPARTMENT PASS USTR FOR J. BUNTIN AND A. ROSENBERG
DOL FOR J. SHEA, B. SHEPARD AND J. RUDE
US MISSION GENEVA FOR LABOR ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD KMPI PGOV PHUM MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ISSUES ADDITIONAL LABOR REGULATIONS
REF: MUSCAT 1565
1. On November 6, 2006, Minister of Manpower Juma bin al-Juma
signed Ministerial Decision 311/2006 regulating the formation
and activities of unions. On the same day, the Minister
issued a legally-enforceable administrative circular
prohibiting employers from withholding workers' passports,
which contacts claim affirms existing Omani legal practice.
According to Omani officials, the Minister's actions fulfill
two of Oman's final three obligations for labor reform under
U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations (reftel).
Post has received no information on the final commitment-
clarifying compulsory labor provisions- which reportedly
would require the Sultan to amend Oman's Basic Law through a
Royal Decree.
2. Contacts at the Ministry of Manpower confirm that
Ministerial Decisions become law one day after they are
published in the official gazette, which the Ministry of
Legal Affairs prepares twice monthly. Contacts state that
they expect the next edition of the gazette on November 16,
and that Ministerial Decision 311 should become law on
November 17. The administrative circular, however, does not
require publication to become legally enforceable, and has
been in effect from the date of the Minister's signature.
Contacts assured poleoff that Ministerial Decision 294/2006
covering collective bargaining (reftel),which Minister
al-Juma signed on October 29, became effective after
publication in the November 2 gazette. In addition, Royal
Decree 112, which the Sultan signed on November 4, became law
on the date of its signing.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI (S. FRANCESKI AND B.
ORBACH),DRL (A. ANZALDUA)
DEPARTMENT PASS USTR FOR J. BUNTIN AND A. ROSENBERG
DOL FOR J. SHEA, B. SHEPARD AND J. RUDE
US MISSION GENEVA FOR LABOR ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD KMPI PGOV PHUM MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ISSUES ADDITIONAL LABOR REGULATIONS
REF: MUSCAT 1565
1. On November 6, 2006, Minister of Manpower Juma bin al-Juma
signed Ministerial Decision 311/2006 regulating the formation
and activities of unions. On the same day, the Minister
issued a legally-enforceable administrative circular
prohibiting employers from withholding workers' passports,
which contacts claim affirms existing Omani legal practice.
According to Omani officials, the Minister's actions fulfill
two of Oman's final three obligations for labor reform under
U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations (reftel).
Post has received no information on the final commitment-
clarifying compulsory labor provisions- which reportedly
would require the Sultan to amend Oman's Basic Law through a
Royal Decree.
2. Contacts at the Ministry of Manpower confirm that
Ministerial Decisions become law one day after they are
published in the official gazette, which the Ministry of
Legal Affairs prepares twice monthly. Contacts state that
they expect the next edition of the gazette on November 16,
and that Ministerial Decision 311 should become law on
November 17. The administrative circular, however, does not
require publication to become legally enforceable, and has
been in effect from the date of the Minister's signature.
Contacts assured poleoff that Ministerial Decision 294/2006
covering collective bargaining (reftel),which Minister
al-Juma signed on October 29, became effective after
publication in the November 2 gazette. In addition, Royal
Decree 112, which the Sultan signed on November 4, became law
on the date of its signing.
GRAPPO