Insurance scheme to benefit Lankans in Saudi Arabia
By Ananda Kannangara
[email protected]
The Government will set up an international insurance company in
collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Government for the benefit of Sri
Lankan domestic workers, employed in Saudi Arabia.
The objective of setting up the insurance company is to encourage
Saudi Arabian employers to pay the premium on behalf of each worker.
Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya
Rambukwella told the `Sunday Observer’ that under the new insurance
scheme, no Saudi Arabian employer can avoid paying their annual premium
towards the scheme on behalf of the domestic workers, employed under
them.
“Such a scheme will also help to minimise numerous employment related
problems between the workers and employers,” It is reported that 80 per
cent of the 500,000 Sri Lankan domestic workers in the Kingdom are
housemaids.
The Minister said that during his recent talks with the Saudi Arabian
Labour Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi in Riyadh, it was agreed to take stern
action against employers who do not pay the salaries stipulated in the
employment contract. |