Regulations to stop women with babies seeking foreign jobs

by Ananda Kannangara

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) will introduce regulations to stop women with children under five years leaving the country for foreign employment. The decision was taken by the Bureau in response to several complaints made by the public and civil organisations regarding women with infants leaving the country for foreign jobs.

SLBFE Chairman, Amal Senadhilankara told the Sunday Observer that investigative teams will be deployed by the Bureau to check whether mothers who have children under five years find foreign jobs through the Bureau channels.He said complaints have been received by the Bureau that even lactating mothers have gone for foreign jobs. "This is a very pathetic situation and strict measures will be taken against mothers of infants who seek foreign jobs".He said women with female children under 15 years will also be banned from leaving the country for jobs unless they forward documents that such female children would be looked after by relatives during their stay abroad.

He said, "Complaints in this regard were also made by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) and we seriously consider such complaints for the benefit of children who face various harassment in the absence of their parents, especially mothers".

He said the Bureau has the responsibility for children of migrant workers and the number of scholarships annually granted by the Bureau for these children will be increased in future.

This decision was taken in recognition of the service rendered by both male and female Lankan workers. Nearly 1.7 million Sri Lankans are currently employed in foreign countries.