Minister, SLBFE Chairman 'to talk' to Lankan expats in Korea

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Korean Labour Dept. officials last week urged the large number of expatriate workers in fifteen countries, including Sri Lankan workers who are illegally employed in Korea after the expiry of their employment contracts, to leave the country immediately.

According to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) over 20,000 Sri Lankans are currently employed in various industrial and construction zones in Korea and the contract of most of them had expired.

The SLBFE yesterday said that Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera and Bureau Chairman Kingsly Ranawaka left for Korea on Saturday to discuss this matter with Korean officials.

Chairman Ranawaka before departure on Saturday told the Sunday Observer that at a time when the Korean Government has agreed to offer a large number of job opportunities to Sri Lankan workers, this impasse will create unnecessary problems in the future.

He said during their brief tour of Korea, they are likely to visit workplaces to meet Sri Lankan workers who are overstaying.

"We will take measures to send them back to Sri Lanka, or will compel their immediate family members here with persons who had signed their job contracts to get them back".

A senior Bureau official said approximately 4,800 Lankan workers found jobs in Korea during the first eight months of this year and during the month of August about 1,017 Lankan workers left for Korea, while 1,800 workers are expected to join the job program within the next four months.