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R 250705Z JUL 06
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RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2520
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0110
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0086
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0202
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0085
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0020
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0021
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 3990
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 0036
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0045
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005566 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR 
STATE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016 
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PHUM GTIP KTEX JO
SUBJECT: MINISTERS PROMISE ACTION ON QIZ LABOR ISSUES 
 
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador raised continuing USG concerns 
about the QIZ labor situation with the King's top aide and 
relevant ministers, in each case without aides present.  GoJ 
leadership understands the importance of the problem but 
there was divergence on how different GoJ elements perceived 
progress toward a solution.  The King's office has promised 
to push ministries to coordinate and move quickly.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Minister of Labor Offers Himself a Pat on the Back 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a July 19 meeting, Minister of Labor Bassem 
Salem, while reiterating public comments that acknowledged 
Jordan's QIZ labor problems, was at times complacent in 
addressing Ambassador's concerns about the quality of 
inspections to date, the fact that the Ministry had closed 
only one factory, the Ministry's lack of capacity to move 
more than a few workers at a time from bad factories to good 
ones, and failure to get employers to return passports to 
employees.  Instead, Minister Salem focused on the actions he 
had taken; this included a claim that he bent Jordanian legal 
requirements in order to move some workers to good factories 
in order to end labor violations more quickly.  Salem claimed 
that the National Labor Committee (NLC) follow-up report of 
June 13 was actually positive for Jordan. 
 
¶3. (C) COMMENT: That Salem should cite the June 13 NLC report 
in this way suggests he is out of touch.  While it commends 
the government for taking some action and cites widespread 
improvement in a number of factories, Salem failed to 
acknowledge Parts B & C of the report, which refer to the 
'Not-So-Positives' and 'Failures' of government to take 
action in a number of other factories.  Additionally, the NLC 
issued an 'urgent update' to the report which alleges 
beatings, long hours, and no food and water for workers at 
one factory, Western.  Some of his own cabinet colleagues 
have described the millionaire businessman/Minister as 
"aloof" from the issue.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  On July 20, MoL officials responsible for moving 
workers informed EconOff that 150 workers from the Western 
factory in Irbid, tired of waiting for promised MoL action, 
had left the facility that morning of their own volition and 
were being sheltered at their respective Embassies in Amman. 
MoL officials said they were aware of the problems at Western 
(reported septel) and had planned to move these workers for 
some time but now, due to diplomatic pressure, would have 
move to more quickly. 
 
Minister of Industry and Trade Passes the Buck 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (C) Minister of Industry and Trade Sharif Zu'bi July 18 
told Ambassador that he had heard of no prosecutions against 
any of the factory owners or managers on any charges, 
including labor violations.  He criticized the Minister of 
Interior for not being more focused on criminal prosecution. 
Zu'bi expressed concern about the Ministry of Labor's slow 
action to date and industrialists' problems with the 
Ministry's short-term implementation of patchwork labor fixes 
that fail to address a comprehensive approach to their needs. 
 The Minister was also very critical of the MoL inspection 
regime, stating that a number of inspectors are corrupt and 
"only go to conduct inspections when their wives need new 
clothes."  COMMENT: While Zu'bi recognizes the seriousness of 
the problem and that a more pro-active approach is required, 
he often finds himself at odds with the MoL and his comments 
may reflect his differences with Salem.  In the past, Zu'bi 
supported the industry's resistance to an MoL push for visa 
fee hikes and bank guarantee deposits.  Zu'bi's primary goal 
is to enhance Jordan's investment appeal.  He should be 
commended for following a hard line with the industry in 
pursuit of this objective.  He repeatedly tells them that 
they need to recognize that they have "bad apples" among 
 
AMMAN 00005566  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
them.  But as one senior Jordanian official commented, Zu'bi 
is in a "pass the buck" mode.  END COMMENT. 
 
Minister of Interior Stuck in Neutral 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In a July 18 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister 
of Interior Eid Fayez referenced a weekly meeting with the 
Ministers of Labor, Industry and Trade, and Foreign Affairs 
on QIZ issues to demonstrate the commitment his Ministry has 
made to the allegations of labor violations.  In response to 
Ambassador's concern over the failure to prosecute a single 
case for labor violations, Fayez showed Ambassador a file of 
alleged violations that he had passed to the Public Security 
Directorate (PSD) a month prior for "immediate action." 
Since then, Fayez said no further action has taken place 
because there are no complainants willing to file charges 
against factory owners.  When asked why the state could not 
pursue charges based on PSD investigations, Fayez said he 
would research the legalities of this possibility.  Fayez 
concurred that he appreciates the potential negative 
consequences for Jordan if criminal cases of labor violations 
are not prosecuted. 
 
King's Office Director Favors Stronger and More Immediate 
Action 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) In a July 19 meeting with the Director of the King's 
Office, Bassem Awadallah, Ambassador found a receptive 
audience ready to tackle QIZ labor violation problems 
immediately.  Awadallah clearly expressed his concern about 
the problem and unhappiness about the progress to date. 
Awadallah is motivated to see expedited action that more 
thoroughly rids the sector of labor violators.  As a first 
step, Awadallah promised to convene the Ministers of Labor, 
Industry and Trade, Interior, and Foreign Affairs "to knock 
heads."  Labor Minister confirmed to Ambassador that the 
meeting was held on July 23, and the King's desire for real 
progress was made abundantly clear.  Ambassador has also 
briefed the Foreign Minister of the potential impact that 
issue could have on Jordan's image and bilateral 
relationship, points he readily acknowledged.  We expect the 
four-Minister Cabinet group to continue to meet, and Embassy 
will keep the pressure on for implementation. 
Hale