Govt. must raise awareness among those seeking overseas employment

Not a day goes by without reports of Sri Lankans stranded in different foreign countries. The majority had left the country seeking better employment prospects overseas. From Jordan to Myanmar to the UAE and beyond, there are numerous reports of Lankans falling victim to unscrupulous gangs, who, in the guise of foreign job agents, extort exorbitant sums of money from gullible citizens and leave them stranded in foreign lands.

Nearly 350 Sri Lankans, mainly women, employed at an apparel factory in the Sahabi area in Jordan who have not been paid their salaries for over a year, are among a large group stranded in that country and are begging the Government to intervene and get them home.

There is also the recent report of 56 Sri Lankan citizens who are allegedly being held hostage at a camp in Myanmar since December. The group had been promised employment in Thailand and had reached that country on a tourist visa and had been taken to the border area of Myanmar and have fallen into the hands of a terrorist group there.

There are regular reports from Dubai of many who have paid large amounts of money with the promise of employment being abandoned once there. While many have been left stranded, others have managed to return home safely but are left reeling under heavy debt having taken loans, mortgaged their properties, pawned jewellery and borrowed money to go overseas. Many are without proper employment in Sri Lanka and their hopes of overseas jobs have been dashed.

Despite repeated requests from the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment and the Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB), there are still many Lankans who leave the country without registering with the FEB. Due to this when they fall into trouble, Government intervention takes time due to lack of records of which countries such persons have gone to and their other relevant details. Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara recently explained that registering with the FEB would be beneficial to those going abroad for employment as it would provide a safety net in times of trouble.

The FEB says that the registration process is a vital mechanism for the protection, well-being and accountability of migrant workers as it facilitates the provision of support services, ensures adherence to ethical standards, and enables effective monitoring of workers’ conditions abroad. The registration also ensures that Sri Lankans are employed overseas with a valid employment contract which safeguards their rights and interests in host countries.

However, despite these appeals and the many stories of unimaginable hardships that Lankans undergo after being duped by unscrupulous job agents, many continue to be hoodwinked. 

Creating awareness among those who seek employment overseas is vital and an urgent need. The Government must do more using social media as well as TV, radio and newspapers to drive home the message of the importance of registering with the FEB as it serves as a safeguard for them when they are in a foreign land.

In the first 11 months of 2023, Sri Lanka received $ 5.4 billion from official channels, in foreign remittances. A large part of this comes from the toil of citizens who work overseas and support their families back home. They also support the country’s economy and have played a major role to help the country as it makes its way out of the economic crisis. 

This is why this crucial segment of the population must be protected and all measures taken to ensure that they are not duped by scammers and left stranded in foreign countries. In the cases of those who are seeking urgent Government intervention to facilitate their return to their homeland, the Government must step in immediately and facilitate their return.