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| Sunday, 15 January 2006 |
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SLBFE
chairman denies newspaper reports
by Ananda Kannangara The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) on Friday made a special request from all 397 Sri Lankan Migrant workers who arrived in the country last week from Saudi Arabia to make written explanations of their sudden arrival before their employment contracts are over. The Bureau has taken such a decision on a directive made by President Mahinda Rajapakse following numerous reports appeared in a local newspaper that some money which were in the possession of several victimised workers had been taken forcibly by officials employed in the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia. In an interview with the Sunday Observer SLBFE, Chairman Jagath Wellawatta denied the newspaper reports which were published in an irresponsible manner and said that the relevant money had been taken from the possession of workers in order to keep them safely in the Embassy custody and to return them back to the owners after their arrival in Sri Lanka. It is reported that among the 397 female workers who arrived at the Bandarnaike International Airport, Katunayaka last week, majority had been in Saudi Arabian detention camps for committing various norms of robberies and escapes from their work places. When asked what action the Bureau would take for the sake of these 397 victimised workers after forwarding their explanations, the Chairman said that those who faced harassments and other form of hardships will be paid compensation through the Suraksha Insurance Policy. "But those who were found guilty for committing thefts and similar offence will be severely dealt with and sometimes they will not be granted foreign employment either in future," he said. He said if any worker complains about the unpaid salaries, prompt action will be taken to get them back after consulting with the local job agent and also the relevant foreign employers. Meanwhile a Senior Bureau official said that steps would be taken against several private employment agencies who send workers without keeping up to date records of the respective foreign employers, not getting correct details of job categories and also about the salaries of workers which will lead many workers to face untold hardships after their arrival in the countries. |
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