VZCZCXRO7348
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHMS #1255 2341137
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221137Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7045
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001255 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP (S. STEINGER), DRL (A. ANZALDUA) AND G/TIP 
STATE PASS USTR FOR J. BUNTIN, A. ROSENBERG, AND L. KARESH 
DOL FOR J. SHEA, B. SHEPARD, AND J. RUDE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB ETRD PHUM PGOV SMIG MU
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF MANPOWER COMBATING TIP AND ILLEGAL 
IMMIGRATION 
 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali bin Juma 
highlighted for the Ambassador some of the challenges that 
his ministry faces in combating trafficking in persons (TIP), 
including a burgeoning sponsor system and registration of 
false companies.  The Minister reiterated his commitment to 
combating trafficking, but said that more inspections, 
fingerprinting at the airport for laborers, and 
reorganization of the sponsorship system are needed to 
properly address and effectively oversee the importation and 
protection of expatriate labor.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------------ 
Suggested TIP Actions for Oman 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) In an August 21 meeting with Minister of Manpower Juma 
bin Ali bin Juma, the Ambassador underscored the TIP report's 
importance and suggested several steps that Oman could take 
to improve its ranking, such as passing specific anti-TIP 
legislation, creating an anti-trafficking intra-agency 
committee, launching an aggressive public awareness campaign, 
and supporting shelters already in operation.  To aid these 
efforts, the Ambassador offered Embassy assistance in 
facilitating a visit by Omani officials to the U.S. to learn 
more about international techniques in identifying and 
protecting trafficking victims, as well as in investigating 
and prosecuting traffickers. 
 
¶3. (U) Given the considerable size of the expatriate labor 
population in Oman, the Ambassador also noted that the Omani 
government should proactively address the alleged withholding 
of passports by employers.  Although Omani courts have 
compelled employers in individual cases to return employee 
passports under Article 18 of the Basic Law, which notes that 
"personal freedom is guaranteed within the limits of the 
law," there is no law on the books expressly prohibiting the 
withholding of passports. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Minister Committed to Combating TIP 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Minister responded positively to the 
suggestions, and agreed that outreach and public awareness 
campaigns are vital components in educating both employers 
and employees on their rights and responsibilities.  He also 
highlighted the government's commitment to combating TIP, 
praising the Ministry of Sports for enforcing 2005 
legislation that prohibits children under 14 (to be raised 
annually until reaching 18 years of age) from racing camels. 
The legislation has already had a significant impact, and 
recently resulted in the cancellation of a planned racing 
event. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Minister expressed his clear commitment to 
protecting workers, and described how he conducted his own 
inspections and reviewed weekly logs of calls made to the 
ministry's hotline.  He groused, however, that the cumbersome 
sponsor system and the registration of false companies 
continue to present challenges for his limited staff.  (Note: 
 Once a company is registered with the Ministry of Commerce 
and Industry, unscrupulous agents are able to obtain labor 
clearances and import labor using the company's name.  End 
Note.)  The Minister suggested that more inspections, 
fingerprinting at airports for laborers, and stricter 
registration of companies would assist in his 
anti-trafficking efforts. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (U) In FTA-related news, the Minister was very pleased 
with the recent passage of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade 
Agreement.  He said he expects implementing legislation to be 
completed by the end of September, well ahead of the U.S. 
congressional deadline of October 31. 
GRAPPO