RELIGIOUS VOLUNTEERS DISCUSS TIP ISSUES

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000949 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP, NEA/ARP, AND DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KCRM KWMN PHUM PGOV ELAB MU SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS VOLUNTEERS DISCUSS TIP ISSUES REF: MUSCAT 907 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Religious leaders and charitable organization volunteers recently shared their views on trafficking in persons in Oman. Though they argue Oman's TIP problem is small in comparison to its neighbors, all are calling for prompt government action to enforce Oman's labor law, increase oversight of corrupt recruitment agencies, and perform outreach and public awareness campaigns. Contacts working at embassies currently operating shelters say they are ready to assist the Omani government in combating the TIP problem. End Summary. -------------- Government Should Do More -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In meetings on June 7, religious leaders and charitable organization volunteers weighed in on the reported trafficking in persons situation in Oman. While one parish priest said his church receives up to 25 runaway workers every month, which he subsequently refers to the individual's respective embassy, he said that most were cases of low wages and a worker's wish to return to his or her home country. Representing a parish of over 18,000 Filipinos, Indians, Sri Lankans and other nationalities, the church official said that illegal overstayers face potential exploitation from sponsors who take money, but fail to renew the worker's labor card. ¶3. (SBU) Volunteers for the Middle East Council of Churches said that they believe the trafficking problem in Oman, while not of the magnitude they have witnessed in other GCC countries, nevertheless requires immediate action by the Omani government, including increased oversight of corrupt recruitment agencies and quicker resolution of labor disputes. (Note: Volunteers said they regularly visit about 50 women a month at the Philippine and Indian shelters where women, primarily domestic servants, are awaiting court cases that take up to eight months to settle. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) All those working in the field agree that a public awareness campaign is necessary to inform workers, legal or otherwise, of their rights and how to get help. Several contacts said that they would welcome the Ministry of Manpower visiting their churches or charitable groups to talk about the labor law and inform workers of their labor rights. Some volunteers also expressed their desire to meet with embassies to share information and develop a network of resources to aide expatriates with labor problems. One church is already working to establish a hotline in order to better help workers find the appropriate legal and medical aid, as well as job opportunities. -------------- Embassies Ready to Help -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Philippine, Sri Lankan, and Indian embassies operate shelters for abused domestic servants, victims of exploitation, and other citizens in need. Some contacts worry that these shelters operate outside the legal mandate of their embassies, but they stress there is currently no other option for dealing with such cases. However, should the Omani government adopt anti-TIP legislation, these embassy contacts stated they are ready and willing to assist a new national TIP-coordinator to organize shelters and to coordinate efforts for outreach and awareness campaigns. STEWART