OMAN MOVING FORWARD AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000582

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, DRL AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2018
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MOVING FORWARD AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

REF: A. MUSCAT 576

B. MUSCAT 500

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (SBU) Despite the absence of many senior officials and
the slow pace of the Omani bureaucracy during the hot summer
months, the government has demonstrated over the past 90 days
its commitment to take new measures against
trafficking-in-persons (TIP). As reported previously, on
July 1 the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) issued comprehensive
new occupational health and safety regulations vetted by the
International Labor Organization in a move directly related
to combating TIP in Oman (ref B). By adopting international
standards for both work-sites and company-owned residential
facilities, the MoM hopes to prevent abusive working
conditions often associated with labor exploitation and
trafficking.


2. (C) In a follow-up move to improve capacity for the
enforcement of labor regulations, the MoM announced publicly
on August 6 that it had begun recruiting 94 new labor
inspectors - 82 men and 12 women - as part of a drive to
strengthen adherence to Omani labor laws. The new inspectors
are required to meet relatively high standards, including
possession of a higher education degree and fluency in
English. In addition, the MoM plans to hire seven "legal
researchers" to help handle legal issues and questions
concerning labor regulations. Khalid Jardani, Office
Director for Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali bin Juma, told
Pol-Econ Chief on August 17 that the hiring of the new
inspectors was well underway and represented a renewed
government emphasis on protecting worker rights. "Other
ministries may be asleep in the summer, but we're taking
action now," Jardani stated.


3. (SBU) Accompanying these measures have been unusually
candid public statements by Omani officials against practices
leading to the abuse and exploitation of foreign workers.
During an August 9 meeting with representatives of labor
recruitment firms that bring expatriate workers to Oman, the
Under Secretary of Labor at the MoM emphasized that foreign
laborers must regularly receive their full salaries and be
provided with appropriate healthcare and accommodations. He
criticized the "poor performance" and high fees imposed by
some recruitment companies and promised increased inspections
of their recruitment practices and procedures. On August 16,
private Arabic-language daily "al-Shabiba" ran an article on
run-away domestic workers that included statements by
Mohammed Ahmad al-Rawahi, the MoM Deputy Director General of
Labor Care. Rather than point the finger at the workers
themselves, as some employers quoted in the article tried to
do, Rawahi stated that most of the cases investigated by the
MoM were the fault of the sponsors. He acknowledged that
many sponsors of the run-away workers did not abide by their
legal obligations and committed violations such as failing to
timely pay salaries, withholding of wages to force employees
to pay the cost of bringing them to Oman, and committing
physical abuse.


4. (C) Comment: Reflecting the MFA Secretary General's
recognition that Oman will have to take substantive anti-TIP
measures to reciprocate its move from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch
List (ref A),the MoM's recent steps, albeit modest,
demonstrate that the government is committed to moving
forward against TIP. The announcement during the two most
languid months of the year of new labor regulations and a
beefed-up inspection effort shows a resolve to act sooner,
rather than later. Moreover, the uncharacteristically blunt
statements by MoM officials, who in the past have normally
refrained from criticizing employers in labor disputes, may
indicate a willingness to adopt a stricter public stance
against Omanis who contribute to TIP. End Comment.
GRAPPO