Bureau to rescue 450 Lankan migrant workers
By Ananda Kannangara
[email protected]
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) on Friday decided
to bring back all 450 Lankan migrant workers who are in detention camps
and those serving jail sentences in the Gulf Region. "Bringing back law
violaters, convicted by the foreign judiciary and others who are in
detention camps is not an easy task.
But we are taking every possible step to bring them back as early as
possible," SLBFE, Deputy General Manager (Foreign Relations) L. K.
Ruhunage told the `Sunday Observer'.
The Bureau will send a team of labour officials to several Middle
Eastern countries on the instructions of Foreign Employment and
Promotion Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to discuss the matter with the
respective countries and also to look into the possibility of granting
the Lankan workers with exit visas without imposing any fines.
A recent Bureau survey revealed that the majority of our workers in
detention camps are females and they were found guilty of overstaying
their visas, not receiving salaries from their employers and also
fleeing from houses due to personal reasons.
The DGM also said that the Bureau spent over Rs. 6 million last year
to bring back 400 workers who were in detention camps and serving jail
sentences in the Gulf Region, while 250 workers were sent with the
assistance of the respective foreign job agents. |