Forty Sri Lankan migrant workers in detention camps will return soon [September 10 2010]

By  Ananda Kannangara

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said that nearly 40 Sri Lankan migrant workers who are currently stranded in a Saudi Arabian detention camp due to numerous employment problems will be airlifted shortly.

According to Bureau reports, these workers had left for Riyadh a few months back to accept various jobs, but the employment agency in Riyadh was unable to place them in the promised job categories.

Bureau, Chairman Kingsly Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer online that this situation has also affected the salaries promised by the employment agency prior to their arrival.         Ranawaka said that he personally visited these workers in Saudi Arabia last week and inquired about their grievances.

He said he also met the officials of the Rasik Al Musagal employment agency in that country.    

Ranawaka further said the Bureau will also investigate this matter even with the officials of the local employment agency who sent these workers to Saudi Arabia and do the justice to the victimised workers.