Thursday, 12 December 2013 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
MORE Sri Lankans are seeking employment in other countries, resulting in a 7.7% increase in migrant workers, according to a report released by the Central Bank earlier this month, creating more onus on policy makers to promote their interests as they are a central part of the economy.
Foreign employment continued to record a steady growth during the first half of this year. Departure for foreign jobs increased 7.7% during the period to 150,408 from 139,685 recorded in the corresponding period last year. While the male migration increased 22.4%, female migration fell 7%.
The latest document titled ‘Recent Economic Development Report’ also showed remittances from foreign employment surged 11.8% during the 10 months to US$ 5.5 million from US$ 4.9 million received in the same period last year.
This is the highest number of departures recorded during the corresponding period in recent years. A shift of the migrant labour force from unskilled category to semi-skilled and skilled categories was evident in the composition of departures during the first half of 2013.
An increase in departures for overseas employment was observed in the categories of clerical and related services, skilled categories, middle level, unskilled labour and professionals, the report added.
Middle level and skilled labour categories reported remarkable increases in departures while unskilled labour and professional categories reported moderate increases, which could eventually cause bottlenecks in the local economy.
On a more positive note, a decrease in departures was observed in housemaids and semi-skilled labour categories during the first half of 2013 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
Sri Lanka already has over two million migrant workers, mostly working in Middle Eastern countries, with 52% of them being women. These new numbers provide the strongest impetus for the Government to get its act together to protect migrant workers through a range of measures centring on greater protection.
This means that greater awareness and training is also necessary so that they can get better pay and work conditions. Migrant workers need support services here and in the country of employment so that when an injustice is done they have an authority to turn to.
Proposed housing and entrepreneurship loan schemes, while providing an incentive for migrant workers, are also part of a highly politicised process that leaves room for women to fall through the cracks. A special system has to be put in place so that savings and accessibility to loans and other financial schemes are given through an impartial framework. This will not only protect women but also give them a chance to invest and grow their savings while being able to return to their lives at home faster.
Better negotiation of contracts, policing of agencies, tougher punishments for senders of underage workers, transparency on employment policies, adequate compensation and awareness for potential employees to make better decisions are all on the long list.
Despite tragedies such as Rizana and thousands of Sri Lankans stranded in Saudi Arabia after an amnesty period lapsed more and more people are seeking employment overseas. This is also a clear sign, along with the boatloads of people heading to Australia, that all is not as right with the economy as the Government would like to believe and the common man feels very much left out of the State’s lofty growth goals.
