Muscat, October 06: A senior Omani official has called for joint effort by all parties concerned to stem human trafficking, outlining steps taken by the sultanate to tackle the menace.
Saleh bin A’yel Al Amry, Labour Welfare Advisor to the Manpower Minister, said trafficking in humans was a global issue that posed challenges at the local, national and international levels.
“As these trans-boundary crimes violate human values, principles and laws, all concerned parties must tackle them and lessen their impacts on individuals and the society within the context of respecting human rights,” he added.
He was speaking at the opening of a workshop on ‘Human Trafficking and Forced Labour’ organised by the Manpower Ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) here on Sunday.
The three-day event was inaugurated by Hamed bin Khamis Al Amry, Technical Education and Vocational Training Under-secretary at the ministry.
More than 12 senior officials from the government private sector establishments are taking part in the workshop.
Saleh al Amry said the seminar was specifically organised to familiarise the participants with the country’s labour legislations and discuss the latest trends from around the world and ILO’s global campaign to curb human trafficking.
Oman issued its first comprehensive ‘Anti-Human Trafficking Law’ through a royal decree last year. It laid down guidelines to identify victims of the illegal practice and means to protect them and provide relief.
“The ministry has signed memorandums of understanding with labour ministries in several countries that export manpower to Oman,” Amry said, adding: “We have also improved the labour inspection system, issued a number of rules and circulars in coordination with employers to contain the practice and raise awareness about it.” ravindranath@khaleejtimes.com
Roger Plant, an ILO official, underlined Oman’s efforts to combat human trafficking, referring to the royal decree. He added the workshop would discuss in detail the ILO conventions on the issue which, he noted, the organisation considered as forced labour.
–Agencies