US embassy cable - 05MANAMA89

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000089 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2016 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ELAB, PHUM, KDEM, BA 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH MINISTER OF LABOR AL ALAWI 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 76 
     B. MANAMA 68 
     C. MANAMA 15 
     D. 04 MANAMA 1824 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C)  The Ambassador met with Minister of Labor and Social 
Affairs Dr. Majid bin Mohsin Al Alawi January 12, just two 
days before the cabinet shuffle that split the ministry into 
two separate ministries.  The Minister emphasized the 
importance of the Crown Prince's labor reform initiative and 
its potential impact on economic growth.  The Ambassador and 
Al Alawi also discussed the registration of international 
organizations, trafficking-in-persons, the status of the 
Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and the activities of 
opposition political groups.  End Summary. 
 
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Cabinet Shuffle and Labor Reform 
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2. (C)  In their January 12 meeting, Minister of Labor and 
Social Affairs Al Alawi told the Ambassador that the King 
would divide the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA) 
into two ministries and appoint him as the Minister of Labor 
(Ref B).  He expressed satisfaction with the change, saying 
it would allow him to focus on advancing the Crown Prince's 
labor reform initiative (Ref D).  He indicated that in order 
to transition to an economy less reliant on petroleum, 
Bahrain must restructure its labor market.  Bahrain cannot 
solve its economic problems in traditional ways and must 
embrace forward-looking ideas.  He noted that a huge change 
in attitude is not easy to achieve, but Bahraini business is 
taking an increasingly favorable view of labor reform. 
(Comment: Embassy experience in recent weeks suggests that 
Bahraini business people are not on board. End Comment.) 
Companies realize that to attract new clients and compete 
globally, they must invest in their human capital.  Al Alawi 
reported that household workers would not be exempt from the 
law, which will require a monthly payment by employers into a 
fund to support training for Bahraini workers.  He stated 
that the GOB hoped the draft labor law would be fully 
implemented by the beginning of 2006.  Al Alawi agreed with 
the Ambassador that the Crown Prince has garnered much 
respect and regional interest by putting the labor reform 
issue on the table.  He reported that during this year, all 
ministries will have an opportunity to comment on the draft 
law before its presentation to Parliament, which is expected 
to debate it thoroughly.  The Minister said labor reform 
would boost trade, and he re-affirmed the GOB's support of 
the U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement. 
 
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IOM Registration for TIP Project 
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3.  (C) The Ambassador told the Minister that the USG is very 
concerned that the GOB has not yet approved the registration 
of a G/TIP-sponsored International Organization for Migration 
(IOM) program in Bahrain.  He said the IOM representative was 
in Bahrain for four months awaiting formal registration.  The 
Ambassador pointed out that Congress mandates an annual TIP 
ranking for certain countries, including Bahrain, and the IOM 
program would be a good symbol of Bahrain's commitment to 
combating trafficking-in-persons.  Minister Al Alawi agreed, 
but said he was unaware of the registration issue.  (Note: 
Bahraini law does not allow for the registration of 
international organizations (IOs), only local NGOs.  In what 
is often a long process, any IO conducting a project in 
Bahrain must get special permission from the GOB to operate. 
End Note.)  The Minister said he would pass the issue on to 
the new Minister of Social Affairs and hoped IOM would be 
registered soon.  Al Alawi highlighted several of the GOB's 
achievements in combating trafficking-in-persons in the last 
year, such as the prosecution of TIP-violating employers and 
the registration of the Migrant Workers Protection Society 
(Ref C).  (Note:  The Ambassador will request a meeting with 
newly-appointed Minister of Social Affairs  Dr. Fatima Al 
Belooshi to follow up on this issue.  End Note.) 
 
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The Bahrain Center for Human Rights 
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4.  (C) The Ambassador mentioned the recent decision of the 
Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) to resume its 
activities in defiance of the GOB's closure of the center 
(Ref A).  Al Alawi stated that he thought this was 
ill-advised and did not understand why the BCHR would choose 
to resume activities while its case contesting the closure is 
still in the courts.  The Minister warned that if BCHR 
members break the law, they will be punished.  He claimed the 
BCHR had violated the societies law and indirectly incited 
violence by calling for the death of the Prime Minister.  Al 
Alawi maintained that the BCHR was not much more than a few 
"hotheaded" figures controlled by former political exiles who 
still reside in London.  Human rights organizations should be 
neutral.  (Comment:  Some of Al Alawi's annoyance may come 
from the fact that he himself was an active member of the 
Shia opposition in exile in London until he accepted the 
King's amnesty and became a minister in 2002.  End Comment.) 
The Ambassador replied that the role of human rights groups 
is to critique governments from time to time, and that the 
international community will inevitably react when they are 
closed. 
 
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Opposition Groups and Participation in the 2006 Elections 
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5.  (C)  The Ambassador noted there appeared to be 
indications that at least some Shia oppositionists are 
warming up to the idea of participating in elections.  Al 
Alawi confirmed this, and said political participation and 
respect for human rights are the keys to stability.  When 
asked about opposition group Al Wifaq's decision to hold a 
constitutional conference in February,  Al Alawi replied that 
the opposition should not bypass Members of Parliament or try 
to force legislation on the King.  Al Alawi said he and other 
ministers would meet with Al Wifaq's leadership soon.  He 
will tell them that if they want to change things in Bahrain, 
they should participate in next year's elections and not work 
outside the system. 
 
MONROE