VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDO #0922/01 2631424
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201424Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7075
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHXI/LABOR COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS DOHA 000922 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, G/TIP, DRL/ILCSR, IO 
LABOR FOR ILAB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ELAB QA
SUBJECT: NEW QATAR LABOR MINISTER PLEDGES COOPERATION ON 
LABOR ISSUES 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  State Department Special Representative 
for Social Issues Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees used his 
visit to Qatar September 4-8 to engage GOQ officials on the 
issue of forced labor and trafficking-in-persons (TIP) among 
the large migrant worker population.  During a meeting with 
the new Labor Minister, he stressed that education is 
important to prevent TIP, and that only criminalization of 
TIP practices will deter it.  Both sides pledged closer 
cooperation on labor issues.  End Summary. 
 
---------------- 
Forced Labor/TIP 
---------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Special Representative for Social Issues Ambassador 
Grover Joseph Rees met September 5 with Sultan Al-Dhabit 
Al-Dousari, the Minister of Civil Affairs and Housing and 
Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.  (Note: The 
Ministry of Civil Affairs and Housing will transition into 
the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs October 1.  Minister 
Al-Dousari will retain his position in the new Ministry.) 
The discussion focused on migrant worker rights and forced 
labor/TIP in Qatar.  Ambassador Rees emphasized that laws 
must be strengthened and enforced in order to effectively 
begin to combat TIP.  Al-Dousari responded that the GOQ was 
in the process of issuing new laws in this regard.  He noted 
that a new law, already endorsed by the Cabinet, will state 
that the employer has no right to hold the employee's 
passport and travel documents.  They will remain with the 
employee unless written permission is granted by the 
employee.  (Note: A subsequent conversation with the Chairman 
of the Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. 
Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, noted that the clause 
allowing for written permission by the employee has been 
stricken from the draft.) 
 
---------------- 
Labor Complaints 
---------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Al-Dousari told Ambassador Rees that the Ministry 
has received explicit instructions from the Amir and the 
Prime Minister to focus on the guarantee of rights for both 
employers and employees.  As such, Al-Dousari told Ambassador 
Rees that the Labor Department within the Ministry normally 
takes care of labor issues between sponsors and workers 
within seven days.  If not resolved, the cases are referred 
to the Labor Court.  "Considering that there are 700,000 
foreign laborers in the country," Al-Dousari told Ambassador 
Rees, "the Labor Department has received only 100, 200, maybe 
500 complaints, and 80 percent or more of the cases are 
solved by the Department before referring the cases to the 
Labor Court."  (Note: The Director of the Labor Department 
reported on Qatar Radio April 13 that the Department receives 
between 8-13 complaints per day, sometimes more.  As such, 
the Department receives at least between 2,080-3,080 
complaints per year.  The caseload at the two Labor Courts 
has resulted in delays of hearings of up to 8-12 months.  As 
such, a third court is expected to open in October.) 
 
----------------- 
"Criminalization" 
----------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Al-Dousari noted on several occasions that the Labor 
Law of 2004 "criminalizes" violations of workers rights. 
(Note: In fact, the Labor Law does not stipulate any criminal 
sanctions for labor violations.  Any violations are handled 
within the labor court system as civil cases.)   He told 
Ambassador Rees that the Inspections Department regularly 
carries out health and safety inspections of labor camps, 
inspections of wages and contracts, and safety inspections of 
work sites. 
 
---------------------- 
Domestic Worker Rights 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Al-Dousari remarked that a new law protecting the 
rights of domestic workers was in the process of being 
approved by the cabinet.  The new law will be issued in 
conjunction with all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council 
(GCC).  All GCC members are expected to issue the law 
simultaneously. 
 
----------------- 
 
Legal Cooperation 
----------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Al-Dousari expressly asked Ambassador Rees for 
assistance on legal issues related to labor.  He noted that 
if the United States has laws to assist the GOQ on labor 
issues, they would gladly review those laws.  He also invited 
comment on Qatar law from U.S. legal experts. 
 
---------- 
TIP Report 
---------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Specifically regarding the Department of State TIP 
Report, Al-Dousari stated that prostitution in Qatar was not 
a big problem.  "Because it involves personal freedoms," he 
added, "the Government does not investigate." He also asked 
for closer U.S. coordination with the Ministry before the 
drafting and release of the TIP Report.  He cautioned against 
relying solely on media for its information.  (Note:  Post 
regularly consults with Labor Department officials during the 
year regarding labor statistics and conditions and uses a 
myriad of confirming sources in its investigation of TIP.) 
In closing, Ambassador Rees emphasized the GOQ must educate 
potential victims of TIP and that prevention of the crime is 
important.  He stressed that criminalization of TIP is 
essential for deterrence. 
 
-------- 
Comments 
-------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Al-Dousari is well-respected by the ruling family. 
Establishing and reorganizing the Ministry of Labor and 
Social Affairs with Al-Dousari as the Minister bodes well for 
an increased emphasis on labor issues in Qatar.  Although he 
at times deliberately downplayed the negative aspects of the 
labor situation in the country during his meeting with 
Ambassador Rees, he left the door open for closer cooperation 
with the USG on labor matters.  We view the realignment of 
the Ministry under Al-Dousari as an opportunity to be seized 
on workers' rights and TIP issues and will engage accordingly. 
 
¶9. (U) Ambassador Rees did not have the opportunity to clear 
this cable. 
RATNEY