More jobs for Lankans abroad

Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

Foreign employment recorded an increase of 15.4 percent last year compared to 8.2 percent in the previous year. According to estimates of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) the number of departures for overseas employment was 252,021 last year compared to 218,459 in the previous year.

The foreign remittances last year amounted to US$ 2,918 million, an increase of 16.6 percent compared to US$ 2,502 million received in 2007.

Migranants ready to leave

Chairman, (SLBFE), Kingsley Ranawaka said the increase was mainly due to the awareness campaign launched by the SLBFE with the assistance of banks, licensed recruitment agencies and media.

“The Bureau launched several awareness programs last year for those seeking employment abroad.

The programs were based on new markets, skills requirement and proper social conduct which are vital to enhance the efficiency of workers and their earning capacity”, Ranawaka said.

According to the Central Bank Annual Report of 2008 the increase in overseas employment was reported in all categories of manpower namely, housemaids, skilled and unskilled labourers.

According to statistics on annual departures, male migration has increased steadily over the years dominating the female with a ratio of 51:48 of the total migration last year. The Sri Lankan migrant population is around 1.8 million of which female workers account to over 65 percent of the total workforce. The change in the migration gender is due to the policy decision of the government to minimise unskilled female recruitment and promote male recruitment.

“The progress in moving slow into emerging markets has been slow due to the current world economic crisis. Those who have obtained the NVQ fifth level qualification will be selected for jobs in European markets”, Ranawaka said.

“The efforts to streamline procedures and prepare job aspirants to suit market requirements abroad have increased opportunities in the foreign job market. Surprise visits were made to recruitment agencies and safe houses to access the condition of safe houses”, he said.

Registration

Recruitment agencies and safe houses will have to be registered in the Sri Lankan embassies within the next two months.

The Middle Eastern region has been Sri Lanka’s primary employment market accounting for over 90 percent of the migrant workforce with the majority consisting of housemaids. The dominance of the Middle Eastern market declined over the years with more opportunities for other categories of labour from Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Maldives.

The agreements made by the SLBFE with labour receiving countries such as Doha Qatar, Bahrain and Libya for welfare and protection of migrant employees at the work place will enhance the employability of the workforce.