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