Lankan workers in Egypt risk deportation

By Ananda Kannangara

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At least 142 Sri Lankans employed at Vilocity Textile Industry in Egypt will be deported to Sri Lanka within the next few days unless they give up their week-long strike against the management, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said yesterday.

SLBFE, Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that although these workers had sought employment in Egypt through proper Bureau channels a few months ago, the Bureau is not bound to airlift any of these workers since the incident had originated due to their misbehaviour against the management.

The Vilocity Textile is one of the leading industries in Egypt with 2,700 expatriate workers. Nearly 200 Sri Lankans are employed and of them 142 are engaged in the strike.

According to the labour rules and regulations in Egypt, no employee could engage in any form of strike against the management.

The Bureau Chairman said the strike had originated following the demand for a salary increase and overtime allowance by Lankan workers and the management had agreed to meet their demands after a discussion.

"At a time when the demands were fulfilled it is not ethical for the workers to continue with the strike,".

The Bureau Chairman said that the Bureau has taken steps to encourage the workers to give up their strike, but they do not listen.