Comment: Banning young mothers working in ME not a solution

The Government recently took a decision to ban young mothers going to Middle East countries as domestic workers. This decision created a dialogue and there were arguments for and against this move. The social issues that arose as a result of women migration have been the focal point of the dialogue in the country for decades.

There is adequate information on the tragedies faced by women workers in Middle East countries. However, there was no significant reduction of the female labour migration.

Those who support the government's decision say it will help minimise social disruption. Women's right activists said that this is a restriction of women's right to mobility and that the government should offer alternatives before banning young mothers' migration.

Today there are around 1.5 million Sri Lankan workers abroad, mainly in the Middle Eastern countries. Foreign remittances sent by them are crucial to the country's economy and they earn the much needed foreign exchange.

According to foreign employment placement records in 2005 around 240,000 Sri Lankan workers had migrated. Over 80% of them have been absorbed by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. The demand for skilled employees came from Qatar and the demand for the unskilled category was also high. The entire demand from Saudi Arabia and UAE was for housemaids.

The high percentage of the female migrant workforce is a significant feature and it is the root of all social issues. In the 1990s, 75% of the migrant workers were females. As a result of the high demand for skilled workers from Qatar, the male component increased from 25% to 37% in 2004 and 41% in 2005.

Still the majority of migrant workers are females. Reports also say that the share of the low income earning housemaid category is increasing and it was 54% in 2005.

The reason for accepting low-income inferior jobs in unknown countries despite higher risk and uncertainty should be considered before taking any decisions on enforcing restrictions.

According to Central Bank reports the major reasons for migration are lack of job opportunities in the country and expectation of accumulating significant savings.

Social issues at home are only one aspect. The greater risk these migrant workers are exposed to and worsening the condition due to political unrest in the Middle East has not caught the attention of the authorities.

The deportation of workers empty handed, stories of displaced people abandoned by the agents, chased away by employers or those who escaped from employers to save their lives are common. Some of them end up as sex workers or sex slaves and are not fortunate even to return home alive. Recently there were a number of reports of suicide and killings of Sri Lankan migrant workers.

According to the Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Bureau, 245 workers died while working in the Middle East in 2004, an increase of 12.9 percent from the 217 deaths in 2003. In 2005, 203 deaths were reported, of which 104 were women.

One report on the labour migration chain said that there are various Lebanese agencies who are selling Sri Lankan women at a price ranging from $1,500 to $3,000. A Lebanese family can "buy" a Sri Lankan maid whose monthly salary will range from $100 to $150.

The agency draws up a contract committing the maid to her employer for two or three years. Since the contract and negotiations are in Arabic, our women usually have a little understanding of what she has committed herself to. This is taking place even today. The authorities only see to the registration of agencies.

International media reports that discuss the issue refer to Sri Lanka as a slave island. There are a number of reports on the tragedies that Sri Lankan workers especially female workers face.

Despite the serious crisis in Lebanon our women still go to Lebanon as housemaids. There is no warning, control or any special safeguard mechanism enforced.

The Middle East Report magazine recently carried an article titled "A Modern-Day "Slave Trade": Sri Lankan Workers in Lebanon". The writer Reem Haddad explains how Sri Lankan women are traded in the Lebanon slave market and what tragedies they face.

He explained about a 27-year-old girl called Sriyani who ran away from her employer to save her life and sought protection at the Sri Lankan embassy in Lebanon. Another report describes the story of 20-year-old Leela. Another one on Mallika and the list continues.

Can we be proud as a nation? How do our leaders talk about these migrant workers and their contribution to the country's economy?. How does the Minister concerned feel about this situation? What action has he taken? How does the Foreign Ministry view this issue and what action have the foreign missions taken? These are the main issues.

Commercial banks and insurance companies are doing more to attract the remittances than what the authorities do for these workers. There are no reports of the action taken by the authorities against the agencies, which send these workers.

The other point is with so many sophisticated telecommunication facilities the authorities have failed to implement a monitoring process of workers sent by agencies. The relevant authorities are not serious about the issue.

The inefficiency of our foreign service goes without saying and should be held responsible. Some Sri Lankan missions particularly in the Middle East were criticised recently for negligence. President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently highlighted the lapses in our foreign missions.

For decades our foreign missions have been elderly homes for retired politicians and high ranking officials.

Banning the migration of young mothers is not a solution if alternative job opportunities are not offered at home.

There are many practical solutions and mechanisms to be implemented. The only need is commitment and real feeling for those who are suffering. Women migrate not because they do not love their children but because they want to give them all comforts.

They take all the risks to provide a better future for the children.