Oman is drafting a comprehensive law against human trafficking to try to persuade the US to lift an indictment that calls the sultanate a serious offender against the rights of migrant workers.

Juma al-Juma, minister of manpower, says the state department designation of Oman as a Tier 3 country – which leaves it open to (albeit unlikely) sanctions or lower aid – is flawed. Existing Omani legislation and implementation are strong enough to stem flows of bonded labour and abuse of labourers (right) and domestic workers, he insists.