Aftermath of Rizana's execution:

Meeting to discuss labour migration policy

by Manjula Fernando

In the aftermath of Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek's horrendous death in Saudi Arabia, Labour Minister Dilan Perera will hold an urgent meeting with the Ministry Secretary to discuss a possible review of the country's existing labour migration policy.

Deputy General Manager, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Mangala Randeniya told the Sunday Observer that the outcome of this meeting will form the basis of the next meeting of the Steering Committee in implementing Labour Migration Policy.

"The Minister has also decided to immediately raise the minimum age for female domestic aides from 21 to 25," he said.

The Steering Committee, a process that had been initiated sometime back, is chaired by the Labour Minister. In the light of Rizana'a unfair trial and beheading, Minister Perera is expected to discuss changes urgently needed to ensure the safety of Lankan migrant workers, especially domestic aides in Middle Eastern countries, during the meeting with his Secretary.

At the time Rizana departed to Saudi Arabia, in 2005, the minimum age to work as a domestic helper was as low as 18. "The intention is to prevent women from leaving our shores for work as house maids and encourage alternative foreign employment in skilled sectors," he said.

Saudi Arabia accounts for the highest number of Sri Lankan expatriate workers with over 400,000 currently working there. This includes nearly 300,000 female and male domestic helpers.

Randeniya said as far as labour disputes are concerned, Saudi Arabia does not figure largely and the officially reported numbers of labour related disputes are less than one percent which is about 3,000 in real figures.