SLBFE called to look into migrant workers' grievances

By Ananda Kannangara

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Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Thursday directed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to immediately look into the grievances of Sri Lankan migrant workers arriving in the island from foreign jails and detention camps.

The SLBFE last week launched a massive program to get down around 450 Sri Lankan migrant workers who are now serving jail terms in foreign countries for various reasons.

According to Bureau statistics 162 Sri Lankan workers who faced numerous hardships at their workplaces had arrived in the country last Tuesday from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It is reported that many Lankan workers who arrived on Thursday had briefed the Bureau officials at the Airport about the problems and irregularities faced by them during their stint abroad.

Minister Rambukwella told the Sunday Observer that all workers had sought employment through proper SLBFE channels and their grievances will be looked into to help them.

He said the Colombo Summit, which was held in Abu Dhabi last month paved the way for the Lankan labour delegation to discuss with Minister Rambukwella about various matters relating to workers in their respective countries.