Cablegate: Molisa Favors Lou Extension and Labor Dialogue Next Week

VZCZCXRO2266
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0842 2031006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211006Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8159
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4930
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS HANOI 000842

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

LABOR FOR LI ZHAU
USTR FOR DBISBEE
STATE FOR EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB ETRD EAID ECON VM
SUBJECT: MOLISA FAVORS LOU EXTENSION AND LABOR DIALOGUE NEXT WEEK

1. (SBU) Summary: The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social
Affairs (MOLISA) would like to sign a four-year extension of the
Letter of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Labor. It also
proposes to send a Vice Minister to Washington at the end of
July/beginning of August to sign the extension and to hold the
bilateral labor dialogue at that time instead of October. End
summary.

2. (SBU) Mr. Tran Phi Tuoc, the Director for the International
Cooperation Department, of MOLISA invited the Economic Counselor to
a meeting today in which he noted MOLISA's desire to sign a
four-year extension of the current Letter of Understanding which
expires August 17. He also indicated MOLISA would like to hold the
bilateral dialogue at the end of July or beginning of August,
instead of October. Tuoc noted the Government of Vietnam's internal
TIFA group wanted to push this as a result of the Prime Minister's
favorable trip to Washington. Below is the text of the letter Tuoc
delivered to the Economic Counselor.

3. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT

I would like to thank you and colleagues for your efforts regarding
the extension of the Letter of Understanding between MOLISA and the
US Department of Labor as well as the preparation for Vietnam-US
Labor Dialogue 2008.

Through our discussions, we have reached common positive
understandings and showed our willingness to promote the fine
existing relation and cooperation activities in labor sector.

With the best of our joint efforts, we would like to kindly request
you to inform the US DOL that:

1. MOLISA would like to sign the agreement to extend the LoU
for four more years (until 2012). The signing could preferably be
held at the end of July or early August 2008.

2. For the signing, MOLISA is willing and planning to send a
Delegation headed by our Vice Minister to the United States at the
end of July 2008. We would also like to propose US DOL to advance
our Labor Dialogue 2008 ahead the schedule and organize this event
during MOLISA's above visit to the United States.

We would be highly appreciated for the Embassy kind cooperation in
this matter. Thank you very much and wish you good health, success.

End Text.

4. (SBU) Comment: One of the factors driving the request for a
labor dialogue meeting soonest is the ongoing GSP review, which has
an August 4 deadline for public comments. While the MOLISA proposal
provides very short notice, having the labor dialogue now instead of
the fall would allow both sides a timely opportunity to address some
of the issues that the USG will examine in the GSP review. End
comment.

MICHALAK

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