Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT427
2008-06-10 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
MUSCAT RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING
how-toVZCZCXRO5511 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMS #0427 1621341 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101341Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9672 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000427
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, DRL/ILCSR FOR MMITTELHAUSER, G/TIP
FOR SSTEINER
DOL/ILAB FOR RRIGBY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MU
SUBJECT: MUSCAT RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS ON FORCED LABOR AND CHILD LABOR
REF: A. STATE 43120
B. MUSCAT 184
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000427
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, DRL/ILCSR FOR MMITTELHAUSER, G/TIP
FOR SSTEINER
DOL/ILAB FOR RRIGBY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MU
SUBJECT: MUSCAT RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS ON FORCED LABOR AND CHILD LABOR
REF: A. STATE 43120
B. MUSCAT 184
1. Post has no information indicating that exploitative child
labor occurs in Oman. Instances of child labor are reported
in the informal, subsistence, and family business sectors of
the economy; however, it does not appear to exist in any
formal sector. A 2006 Royal Decree expressly prohibited
forced and child labor and increased the penalties for
violations. Oman has ratified International Labor
Organization (ILO) Conventions 29 and 105 concerning forced
or compulsory labor and Conventions 138 and 182 concerning
the employment of children and minors. Post has no
information to indicate that Oman is either a source or
destination country for child sex tourism (ref b).
2. Post also has no reports of forced labor involved in the
production of goods. Some of Oman's estimated 900,000
documented and undocumented migrant workers reportedly endure
practices and conditions that in some instances may meet the
ILO definition of forced labor, including deception or false
promises about types and terms of work, withholding and
non-payment of wages, and retention of identity documents or
other valuable personal possessions. (Note: A 2006 legally
enforceable administrative circular issued by the Ministry of
Manpower expressly prohibits employers from withholding
workers' passports, although the practice remains endemic.
End note.) In addition, many workers arrive in Oman with
significant debt to recruiting agencies both at home and in
Oman (ref b). These reports, however, typically involve
workers in the service sector, specifically in the
construction, cleaning and gardening/agriculture industries,
and among women working as housemaids. The government does
not maintain or release statistics on trafficking in persons
and forced labor cases or convictions, and Post has no
specific anecdotal reports of abuse from workers involved in
the manufacturing sector or in the production of goods.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, DRL/ILCSR FOR MMITTELHAUSER, G/TIP
FOR SSTEINER
DOL/ILAB FOR RRIGBY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MU
SUBJECT: MUSCAT RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS ON FORCED LABOR AND CHILD LABOR
REF: A. STATE 43120
B. MUSCAT 184
1. Post has no information indicating that exploitative child
labor occurs in Oman. Instances of child labor are reported
in the informal, subsistence, and family business sectors of
the economy; however, it does not appear to exist in any
formal sector. A 2006 Royal Decree expressly prohibited
forced and child labor and increased the penalties for
violations. Oman has ratified International Labor
Organization (ILO) Conventions 29 and 105 concerning forced
or compulsory labor and Conventions 138 and 182 concerning
the employment of children and minors. Post has no
information to indicate that Oman is either a source or
destination country for child sex tourism (ref b).
2. Post also has no reports of forced labor involved in the
production of goods. Some of Oman's estimated 900,000
documented and undocumented migrant workers reportedly endure
practices and conditions that in some instances may meet the
ILO definition of forced labor, including deception or false
promises about types and terms of work, withholding and
non-payment of wages, and retention of identity documents or
other valuable personal possessions. (Note: A 2006 legally
enforceable administrative circular issued by the Ministry of
Manpower expressly prohibits employers from withholding
workers' passports, although the practice remains endemic.
End note.) In addition, many workers arrive in Oman with
significant debt to recruiting agencies both at home and in
Oman (ref b). These reports, however, typically involve
workers in the service sector, specifically in the
construction, cleaning and gardening/agriculture industries,
and among women working as housemaids. The government does
not maintain or release statistics on trafficking in persons
and forced labor cases or convictions, and Post has no
specific anecdotal reports of abuse from workers involved in
the manufacturing sector or in the production of goods.
GRAPPO