BAHRAIN: MINISTER OF LABOR ON STRIKE BAN EXECUTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000194 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USTR FOR JBUNTIN DOL/ILAB FOR JRUDE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017 TAGS: ECON ELAB PHUM SOCI BA HUMRIT POL SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: MINISTER OF LABOR ON STRIKE BAN EXECUTIVE ORDER 62 REF: STATE 13806 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (C) In a February 28 meeting covering several topics (septel),Ambassador delivered reftel points regarding Executive Order 62, which bans strikes in certain sectors, to Minister of Labor Dr. Abdulmajeed Bin Muhsin Al Alawi. Al Alawi said that the Ministry had consulted ILO conventions before drawing up the executive order and mentioned that there is room in the ILO conventions to consider special circumstances in individual countries. Ambassador reiterated that E.O. 62 went further than ILO rulings in that it even banned strikes in bakeries. Al Alawi responded that bakery products could be considered essential, as bakery strikes could affect public security and the health of the population. ¶2. (C) Al Alawi nonetheless said that the Ministry would review the points discussed in the context of ILO conventions and consult with ILO officials. He was noncommital on the Ambassador's suggestion to provide U.S. experts for consultations on the issue, but did not reject the offer directly. He said that the Ministry would respond to the Embassy after completing its review. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE