MINISTER OUTLINES OMAN'S PLANS TO COMBAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000625 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA,DRL AND G/TIP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018 TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU SUBJECT: MINISTER OUTLINES OMAN'S PLANS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REF: A. MUSCAT 582 ¶B. MUSCAT 500 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Oman's Minister of Manpower reaffirmed Oman's determination to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in a meeting with the Ambassador on September 2. During a conversation discussing a variety of topics, Minister Juma Ali Juma outlined immediate steps underway by the Omani government to confront TIP. He discussed the status of Oman's anti-TIP law, hiring of a second wave of labor inspectors, recent International Labor Organization (ILO) training for labor inspectors that addressed TIP issues, Sultan Qaboos's plan to form a Human Rights Committee this fall, training of the Royal Omani Police (ROP) in the recognition of trafficking victims, and creation of a shelter for trafficking victims. He emphasized that "what we are saying, we are doing." End Summary. ¶2. (C) Minister Juma told the Ambassador that Oman's anti-TIP law is in the final drafting stages. He expressed confidence that the law would be in place before the end of the year. He noted that it is easy to make a law, but "hard to put it in the field" and emphasized the Omani government's desire to see the law effectively implemented. ¶3. (C) The Minister discussed his ministry's on-going efforts to recruit a second wave of labor inspectors (ref A),as the first group has now completed ILO-conducted labor training, as well as English and IT training. Recruits in both groups are required to have a law degree. The Ministry of Manpower (MoM) is planning to hire a third group of around 100 inspectors after the second group completes training. Juma also said the MoM was working on creating a degree program in Occupational Health and Safety, as most companies in Oman will need qualified individuals to serve as occupational safety officers since the issuance of new government regulations in this area (ref B). ¶4. (C) The Minister was enthusiastic about recent ILO training for labor inspectors, which included specific material addressing TIP and forced labor. Juma thanked the U.S. Government for its support of ILO training via Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) funding. (Note: Khawla Mattar, the ILO trainer who conducted the training, told poloff that it went "extremely well". She said that the ILO plans to return in November to complete advanced training for the first group and initial training for the second group. End Note.) ¶5. (C) Juma outlined Sultan Qaboos's plan to form a Human Rights Committee in the next few months. This commission would not report through any ministry, but be accountable directly to the Sultan. He also mentioned that the ROP has undergone training on how to recognize and assist victims of trafficking. The Omani government, according to Juma, is working with "local associations" to develop a shelter for TIP victims in order to provide for their immediate safety. ¶6. (C) Comment: Minister Juma's description of recent actions and plans confirms what we have heard from other sources - that the Sultan is focused on addressing TIP in Oman in an effort to improve its ranking in the U.S. TIP report next year. The strong measures outlined by the Minister support his statement that the GOO is interested not just in passing a new law, but in effectively enforcing it. End Comment. GRAPPO