VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0214 0770937
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180937Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9803
INFO RHEHNSC/NCS WASHDC
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1630
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3197
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1124
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 4536

UNCLAS RABAT 000214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LABOR FOR DOL/ILAB LEYLA STROTKAMP 
STATE ALSO FOR DRL/ILCSR MARK MITTELHAUSER, 
DRL/NESCA, G/TIP STEVE STEINER, NEA/RA, NEA/MAG, 
NEA/ENA, AND G/IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB EIND EAID PHUM SOCI KWMN MO
SUBJECT: 2008 WESTERN SAHARA UPDATE OF THE WORST 
FORMS OF CHILD LABOR 
 
REF: A. STATE 21472 
     B: CASABLANCA 12 
     C: RABAT 172 
 
 
¶1.  This message provides requested updates for the 
Department of Labor's annual report on the Worst 
Forms of Child Labor in the Western Sahara. (Ref A) 
The sovereignty of the Western Sahara is disputed 
between the Government of Morocco and the Polisario, 
an Algerian-backed organization seeking 
independence.  The GOM maintains control over a 
significant portion of the Western Sahara from the 
coastal areas inward.  The GOM considers the 
Western Sahara to be an integral part of its 
national territory and applies the same laws and 
administrative procedures that exist in the rest of 
the country.  Post has submitted a report detailing 
the overall situation of forced labor and child 
labor in Morocco (Ref B). 
 
¶2. Economic activity in the Western Sahara is 
limited to phosphate mining, pastoral nomadism, and 
fishing.  There is very limited industrial activity. 
Emboffs visit the region frequently and Post is not 
aware of any significant instances of forced labor 
or child labor in the Western Sahara.  Traditional 
Sahrawi practices of domestic slavery were 
eliminated many years ago.  The only reports we have 
heard of about slavery stem from allegations that 
the practice continues in Polisario-controlled 
refugee camps.  Child and labor issues are also 
addressed in the Western Sahara Chapter of the 
annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 
(Ref C). 
 
¶3.  This message was prepared by Consulate 
Casablanca Laboff Matthew Lehrfeld, and represents 
coordinated Mission views. Further inquiries should 
be directed to Consulate Casablanca, info Rabat. 
 
JACKSON