MINISTER OF MANPOWER RECEIVES INITIAL TIP DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000409

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP, DRL AND NEA/MEPI
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR JAMES RUDE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL KCRM KMPI KWMN ELAB SMIG MU
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF MANPOWER RECEIVES INITIAL TIP DEMARCHE

REF: A. STATE 59116

B. STATE 58779

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) On June 4, the Ambassador demarched Minister of
Manpower Juma bin Ali al Juma on the 2008 Trafficking In
Persons (TIP) report for Oman, providing him with both the
country narrative and 60-day action plan (refs A, B). The
Ambassador passed similar information to the office of the
Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
As expected, Juma was displeased that Oman would remain on
Tier 3 and made the oft repeated claim that Oman does not
have a significant problem with labor or sex trafficking,
particularly in comparison with other countries in the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC). The Ambassador focused Juma on
Oman's lack of action over the past year to combat TIP or
care for its victims, calling the Minister's attention to the
fact that Oman had not fulfilled the recommended steps in
last year's action plan. As the Ambassador walked Juma
through the 2008 plan, Juma asked his note takers to place
particular emphasis on the recommendations that Oman "enact
already drafted anti-trafficking legislation" and "establish
a system of support services and shelters for victims of
trafficking." "We are not happy to be on this list," Juma
told the Ambassador, "and (the Sultan) and the rest of the
government are paying attention."


2. (C) Comment: Juma requested the meeting with the
Ambassador after poloff quietly informed the Director General
(DG) of Labor Care, a close contact of the Embassy, about the
contents of the TIP report on the afternoon of June 3.
According to the DG, Juma wanted to hear about the report
before leaving on June 4 for the International Labor
Organization's annual conference in Geneva. The Embassy
plans to send a copy of Oman's country narrative and action
plan to the office of Yusef bin Alawi, Minister Responsible
for Foreign Affairs, and will report any substantive response
septel. End Comment.
GRAPPO