SLBFE ready to accept complaints from Kuwaiti returnees

by Ananda KANNANGARA

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) yesterday said that the 400 workers who had overstayed in Kuwait arrived in the country could make complaints if any, at the Bureau Head Office at Battaramulla even in the future." He said no one made complaints either to the Kuwait Embassy or the SLBFE of any incidents of harassment by their employers. SLBFE, Deputy General Manager, L.K. Ruhunage made these comments in response to a question that three female Lankan migrant workers who arrived in the country last week from Kuwait had complained to the media that they were subjected to ill-treatment and harassment by their employers during their brief stay there.

He said such complaints will be investigated and steps will be taken to resolve them diplomatically with Lankan labour representatives in Kuwait".

The Bureau DGM also said that 400 Lankan workers were able to return without facing any legal charges due to a special one-month long amnesty period granted by the Kuwait Government for overstaying migrant workers in seven labour providing countries. The amnesty expired on October 15.

Ruhunage said that over 125,000 Sri Lankans are currently employed in Kuwait. Nearly 1,000 had arrived in Sri Lanka in the recent past following the cancellation of their work permits and visas.