Protection for labour force
 

by Ananda Kannangara

One of the principal objectives in the `Mahinda Chintana' is to look after the welfare of more than 8 million labour force in the country. To keep this pledge a reality, the Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Ministry during the past one year organised several programs.

The Ministry took several important measures to resolve at least 60 per cent of 8,000 labour cases lying unresolved at Labour Tribunals countrywide. The Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratna had appointed a special team of officials to check whether there are any private companies that do not pay the increased Rs.1000 to their workers.

A significant progress has been achieved in the Foreign employment sector. According to latest statistics more than 200,000 Sri Lankans had sought foreign employment during the past one year.

When the war in Lebanon started several months ago, more than 100,000 Sri Lankans returned to Sri Lanka. The Labour Department had to airlift many of them from the war- torn areas and others to safer places. The Ministry also found suitable employment opportunities for them in countries like Singapore, Korea and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the Bureau had offered scholarships to children of migrant workers. In addition, many loan schemes including housing loans were introduced through state and mercantile banks to benefit migrant workers. Direction was given to agencies not to send workers to foreign countries for salaries below Rs. 25,000.

A special program was started to crack down errant employers who do not remit EPF deductions. A new school to train nurses for foreign jobs will be commenced by the SLBFE at the Kalubowila hospital. It is reported that a large number of vacancies exist for nurses available in USA and several European countries.

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