US embassy cable - 04MAPUTO983

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000983 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR AF/S, DRL/IL - AWILSON 
JOHANNESBURG FOR RLO VZWANE 
LABOR FOR ILAB MMITTELHAUSER, KSOLEM 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, MZ 
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE INTEREST IN REGIONAL LABOR RIGHTS TRAINING 
SEMINAR 
 
REF: STATE 145218 
 
1. Post recommends two participants for the September 29th-30th 
ILAB-DRL/IL worker rights training seminar in Johannesburg, E/P 
labor reporting officer Loren Dent and Political Assistant Naimo 
Vasco Antonio. Please find below the candidate information. 
 
2. NAME: Loren Dent 
LOCATION: Embassy Maputo 
TITLE: Econ/Pol Officer (covering labor affairs) 
EMAIL: dentln@state.gov 
PHONE: 258-1-492-797 
DEPARTURE DATE FROM POST: 07/2005 
In a seven person, four-officer E/P section, Ms. Dent covers the 
labor portfolio and does extensive labor reporting. With the 
Government of Mozambique on the heels of revising its labor law 
(new law anticipated in 2005), labor is a hot topic. The USDOL 
and ILO are currently funding various labor initiatives in 
Mozambique concerning industrial-based bargaining and labor 
dispute resolution training, the reduction of HIV/AIDS in the 
workplace, understanding workers' rights, and research on the 
current labor law and recommendations for reform. Ms. Dent has 
planned several visits for USDOL representatives and the regional 
labor officer (Johannesburg) to speak with local labor unions, 
government officials in the Ministry of Labor, the Minister of 
Labor, academia, and the private sector. Most recently, Ms. Dent 
organized a 60-person labor seminar in coordination with USDOL 
ILAB to bring players from various sectors together to discuss 
recommendations for labor reform in anticipation of the 2005 
labor law revision. This seminar was a success and realized full- 
day participation by the Minister of Labor and remarks by both 
the Minister and the U.S. Ambassador. The USG has significant 
interest in seeing Mozambique's labor law reform create a more 
investment-friendly climate that will raise Mozambique's regional 
competitiveness. The next program, anticipated for the fall of 
2004, will bring Peter Hurtgen, Director of the Federal Mediation 
and Conciliation Service (FMCS), to Mozambique to speak on labor 
rights and mediation. With significant labor issues and the 
widespread affect that a law revision will have on the entire 
community, Ms. Dent has provided several reporting cables on the 
local situation and how current USG programs are positively 
affecting change in Mozambique. Ms. Dent has never received any 
type of labor reporting officer training and looks forward to the 
opportunity to participate in this two-day course. It is a 
certainty that with ongoing USDOL and ILO programs and the labor 
law revision, labor will remain a serious topic with considerable 
discussion in Mozambique and among potential investors. This 
course comes at a good time to sharpen the skills necessary to 
accurately understand and report on current events. 
? 
3. NAME: Naimo Vasco Antonio 
LOCATION: Embassy Maputo 
TITLE: Political Specialist, FSN (covering labor affairs) 
EMAIL: antonionv@state.gov 
PHONE: 258-1-492-797 
DEPARTURE DATE FROM POST: N/A 
As one of Post's two E/P FSNs, Vasco is instrumental in analyzing 
and accurately reporting labor events in Mozambique. Vasco 
communicates regularly with our contacts at the Ministry of 
Labor, including the Minister's chief of staff, the labor unions, 
academia, and the private sector, to keep abreast of labor 
issues, particularly dialogue between workers and employers. 
Vasco was key in helping a two-year USDOL effort in Mozambique 
led by FMCS. In 2003-2004, FMCS labor dispute resolution trainers 
visited Mozambique on four occasions to provide training to a 
tripartite group of participants: government, labor unions, and 
the private sector. Vasco identified participants, encouraged 
their participation, worked with USDOL and FMCS to ensure things 
were prepared before the trainers arrived, and followed-up with 
participants. This training was so valuable that it has been 
taken on the road by the FMCS trainees and currently union 
members and workers are learning about labor dispute resolution 
in the provinces. Vasco's labor work was also critical to the 
success of the May 2004 labor seminar that was managed dually by 
Post and USDOL. Vasco has never had the opportunity to attend 
labor training and would greatly benefit from the information and 
recommendations presented, especially given the importance of 
labor issues in Mozambique. This training will not only benefit 
Vasco, it will also benefit Post by providing one of our most 
intelligent and capable FSNs with important skills needed to 
manage the labor portfolio. 
 
4. Due to end-of-year fiscal constraints, we regret that Post 
does not have the funds to pay for candidates' per diem in 
Johannesburg. Post would appreciate if USDOL would consider 
covering the full cost of candidates' participation in the 
seminar if chosen. 
LA LIME