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RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 000519 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR SAUMS, ROSENBERG, KARESH 
STATE PASS TO DOL JAMES RUDE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2017 
TAGS: ELAB ETRD GTIP KTEX BG JO
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR RESPOND POSITIVELY 
TO USTR CONCERNS 
 
REF: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR DAVID HALE FOR REASONS 
     1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: USTR Middle East Director met with the 
Ministers of Industry and Trade, Justice, and Labor and with 
private-sector representatives to discuss labor conditions in 
Jordan's garment sector during a visit January 31-February 1. 
 With government officials, USTR emphasized three key points: 
(1) the prominence of the labor issue in Washington, (2) the 
need for Jordan to formulate and articulate a clear strategy 
that reflects the input of all stakeholders, government and 
private-sector, and (3) the criticality of aggressive public 
outreach both at home and in the U.S.  Ambassador and senior 
GoJ officials have agreed to consult on the release of the 
short-term assessment report when it is ready, sometime after 
February 16.  The Jordanians may opt to delay issuance, to 
prepare a public relations strategy, after a possible early 
March visit by King Abdullah to the U.S.  The Minister of 
Labor conveyed his intent to travel to the U.S. ahead of the 
report's release and pro-actively respond to the criticisms 
raised in the report.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) In a meeting with Minister of Labor Basem Salem on 
January 31, USTR Middle East Director Edmund Saums 
underscored the need to "move forward with urgency" on the 
labor front.  Saums indicated that in Washington labor is "at 
the center of trade discussions."  With regards to the 
short-term assessment report (conducted by an independent 
expert funded by USAID and endorsed by the MoL) which 
provides painstaking detail on labor conditions in Jordan's 
Qualifying Industrial Zone garment factories, Saums 
emphasized "frank, up-front acknowledgment of the issue 
sooner rather than later is critical."  In response, Salem 
replied that he "was not against issuing the report" but that 
others in government were concerned about the proximity of 
the report's release to the King's anticipated visit to 
Washington in early March.  Both Saums and the Ambassador 
emphasized that the release of the report is an opportunity 
to demonstrate Jordan's openness in admitting its labor 
challenges and would provide an opportunity to showcase its 
efforts in labor reform over the last nine months.  As a 
follow-on, Saums indicated that the GoJ's pro-activeness and 
transparency has won it trust in congressional circles since 
the release of the National Labor Committee report in May 
2006 which originally highlighted labor problems in Jordan. 
After a series of discussions, Ambassador agreed with senior 
officials on February 2 to consult closely on release of the 
report, once it is completed, sometime after February 16. 
Depending on the timing of the report's readiness and the 
King's schedule, the Jordanians may opt to release it after 
the King's next trip to the U.S., possibly in early March. 
NOTE: Post plans to work closely with the MoL to develop a 
communications strategy in which the Minister can share the 
report's results with stakeholders (i.e., buyer groups, QIZ 
investors, worker rights representatives) as well as with 
media outlets.  END NOTE. 
 
¶3. (C)  Saums' encouragement that the GoJ do more on 
formulating a more clear strategy on labor registered 
strongly with Salem.  Salem said that in the upcoming meeting 
with the PM, the group of Ministers planned to discuss the 
need for a comprehensive approach to labor.  Salem indicated 
that this was another area where he would shortly ask the PM 
for approval to have the Ministry of Labor lead the effort. 
Saums added that an overall comprehensive strategy should 
also include the private sector.  Using the model of USTR 
private sector meetings as an example, Saums said 
private-sector input is critical to developing policy in the 
U.S.  Salem openly admitted that private sector involvement 
in Jordan remained a challenge.  While he made clear his door 
is open to private sector representatives, Salem said that 
"we speak two different languages." He asked for USG support 
in helping the two sides "see eye-to-eye" and getting the 
private-sector to recognize "international labor standards as 
 
AMMAN 00000519  002 OF 002 
 
 
a benchmark."  Salem was quick to point out that this would 
require more pro-active American buyer and brand input as 
well. 
 
¶4. (C) On the labor law, Salem indicated his intent to get 
the draft labor law to Cabinet in the coming week where "it 
will pass quickly."  Submitting it to Parliament would be 
next and Salem expressed hope that it would receive priority 
but was clear that it might not be approved in this session 
of Parliament. 
 
¶5. (C) In response to the emphasis to move quickly and 
communicate effectively, Salem took it upon himself to 
accelerate the selection and engagement of a U.S. public 
relations firm.  COMMENT: Salem seems keen to have the public 
relations firm fully engaged before the release of the 
short-term assessment report.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶6. (C) In separate meetings, Ministers of Industry and Trade 
and Justice responded positively to the USTR points. 
Newly-appointed Minister of Industry and Trade, Salem 
Khaza'leh, highlighted his Ministry's engagement with the 
private-sector but acknowledged the need for better 
coordination among ministries to respond to private-sector 
concerns as well as the need to address labor law enforcement 
more comprehensively. 
 
¶7. (C) Minister of Justice and ex-Minister of Industry and 
Trade Sharif Zu'bi echoed a similar sentiment with respect to 
coordination with Ministry on Labor and Interior on 
prosecution of labor law violators.  Zu'bi indicated that the 
Ministry of Justice will be "heavily involved" in the 
prosecutions and "will start to take some tough actions."  As 
the newly-appointed Minister of Justice, he promised to 
devote his energies to pushing for "high-profile 
prosecutions." 
HALE