VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMS #0325/01 1200631
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290631Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9538

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000325 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/ILCSR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: APER AMGT ELAB PHUM MU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT NOMINATION FOR 2008 AWARD FOR 
EXCELLENCE IN LABOR DIPLOMACY 
 
REF: A. STATE 27854 
     ¶B. MUSCAT 138 
     ¶C. 07 MUSCAT 531 
     ¶D. 07 MUSCAT 473 
     ¶E. 07 MUSCAT 365 
 
¶1.  Following up on his outstanding performance on labor 
issues the previous year (ref D), Labor/Human Rights Officer 
Andy Lentz has continued to significantly advance U.S. 
foreign policy interests in the labor field.  As Oman's 
nascent independent labor unions (legalized in 2006) slowly 
develop into a positive force for social change, Andy's 
accomplishments as described below come at a critical time 
and will have lasting, beneficial results. 
 
¶2.  As a result of negotiations to conclude the U.S.-Oman 
Free Trade Agreement, the Omani government enacted sweeping 
labor reforms in 2006 that hold the promise of transforming 
the nature of labor relations in Oman and improving the 
rights of workers, both foreign and Omani.  These reforms may 
also serve as a positive model for change in the entire 
Middle East region.  To be effective, however, they must be 
fully enforceable in the Omani legal system.  After 
identifying that many judges lacked the expertise and 
experience to properly interpret and apply Oman's new labor 
law, Andy took action.  After proposing a judicial training 
workshop on labor issues in a 2007 cable on labor programming 
priorities, Andy secured approval to use Middle East 
Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funds, identified a program 
implementer (the American Bar Association), and then worked 
with the ABA to design a two-day course focusing on the most 
important legal points for the judges.  Tellingly, one of the 
judges remarked that it was the first time that he and his 
colleagues had the opportunity to discuss the new labor law 
with Oman's Ministry of Manpower. 
 
¶3.  To follow-up on and reinforce the judicial training he 
made happen, Andy hit upon a tool that will have lasting 
impact in Oman courtrooms:  a U.S.-style "benchbook."  Upon 
hearing from lawyers and businesses that judicial decisions 
on labor issues often appeared inconsistent, coupled with 
candid admissions from judges that they needed a reference 
tool to help them better understand the law, Andy discussed 
options with the local ABA representatives to address this 
problem.  Together they agreed on an innovative solution -- a 
benchbook modeled after those used in some U.S. courts that 
contains relevant statutes, commentaries on the laws, and 
previous court decisions interpreting key provisions.  The 
benchbook is currently under development and promises to 
change the way judges rule on labor cases. 
 
¶4.  With unions in Oman still in their infancy, 
communications between businesses and organized labor is 
tenuous at best in many industries.  Some companies still 
view unions as unwelcome threats to their operations, while 
labor leaders have few examples to follow in dealing with 
management.  In some instances, this lack of dialogue has led 
to major misunderstandings.  To help management-labor 
relations move ahead, Andy worked with the Public Affairs 
Section to pool scarce resources and organize a series of 
small roundtable discussions for business leaders (including 
CEOs of major corporations) and labor representatives from 
company-level unions and the General Federation of Oman's 
Laborers.  Andy also brought in U.S. speakers to discuss 
specific topics such as union elections, as well as address 
general labor concerns.  Many participants said the sessions 
provided them with their first chance to speak substantively 
with each other.  At one roundtable, the CEO of an employers' 
association for oil and gas companies (OPAL) invited the 
chairman of the General Federation to jointly develop a 
template for communication and training. 
 
¶5.  Andy's hard work has already resulted in concrete 
results.  Many of the roundtable participants, for example, 
have held meetings with their colleagues to share what they 
learned on complying with Oman's labor reforms.  After 
consultations with Andy, the CEO of OPAL designed and 
organized a training program on "win-win" negotiating for 
Human Resources executives in oil and gas service companies, 
to which he also invited labor union representatives.  The 
CEO also invited the labor expert from the judicial training 
program and one of Andy's roundtables to lead the sessions. 
 
¶6.  Despite these major successes, Andy is still advocating 
for more labor programming.  Thanks to his extensive 
reporting on labor needs and opportunities for advancing U.S. 
labor policy, he helped secure a $500,000 MEPI grant for the 
Solidarity Center to begin operations and establish an office 
in Oman.  The technical assistance provided by the Solidarity 
Center will represent a major investment in the development 
of labor unions in Oman. 
 
 
¶7.  Andy's reporting on labor-related issues is consistently 
first-rate.  His cables also accurately explain and analyze 
labor trends in Oman.  Moreover, the deep, meaningful 
relationships that Andy has developed with contacts in labor, 
business and government due to his work (and his outstanding 
interpersonal skills) have put him right in the middle of 
events as they unfold, thereby increasing the value of his 
reporting.  When a major strike occurred at the Omani port of 
Salalah - one of the world's busiest transshipment hubs - 
Andy's contacts enabled him to follow the work stoppage (the 
biggest in Oman in many years), which showed signs of 
developing into a major confrontation, and to make 
recommendations for action based on his analysis (refs C, D). 
 Andy's contacts and extensive research also enabled him to 
write a landmark cable on a socially taboo subject - 
prostitution in Oman (ref B).  By digging down into the 
underbelly of Omani society and utilizing his many sources of 
information, Andy shed light on a growing problem and tied it 
to the overall labor picture and trafficking.  As Oman 
develops into an increasingly important center for business 
and tourism, his work on this subject will take on even 
greater importance. 
 
¶8.  Outside his work on labor relations, Andy has been 
tireless in his efforts to help improve the situation of 
exploited, and possibly trafficked, workers in Oman.  For 
example, realizing that the U.S. government practices must 
reflect its labor policy goals, Andy looked around the 
Embassy and saw a problem.  Low-skilled laborers working at 
the Embassy as employees of a service contract company were 
working long hours for very low, exploitative wages.  Andy 
quickly alerted the Front Office, which fully backed his call 
for action.  He then wrote a cable to Washington on the 
situation and recommended a series of options to make sure 
these workers were paid a fair wage.  The cable, and 
follow-up communications with the State Department by both 
Andy and the Ambassador, highlighted a similar problem 
elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf region and resulted in a review 
of NEA bureau policies that could catalyze a change in 
contracting policies. 
 
¶9. Andy also identified a problem with South Asian maids 
resident in the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE), many 
of whom had been abused, being effectively forced to accept 
exploitative employment in Oman.  After thoroughly 
researching the problem, he wrote two separate reports that 
included the names of labor recruitment agencies accused of 
facilitating this cross-border trade.  G/TIP took notice of 
Andy's cables and backed his call for a global response by 
directing U.S. embassies in relevant countries to encourage 
governments to crack down on these suspect agencies. 
 
¶10.  Given Andy's accomplishments outlined above, 
particularly since he covers non-labor issues in his diverse 
portfolio, Ambassador Grappo and Embassy Muscat strongly 
recommend Andy Lentz for the 2008 Award for Excellence in 
Labor Diplomacy.  He truly personifies the work of the 
Department in transforming labor practices and policies in 
countries in accordance with U.S. national interests. 
 
¶11.  Proposed Award Citation:  For sustained reporting 
excellence in labor matters and outstanding contributions and 
support for the development of labor organizations, the 
protection of workers' rights, the elimination of 
trafficking-in-persons, and the strengthening of 
labor-business relations in Oman. 
GRAPPO