|
Return of Lankan workers from Libya:
Don't destroy foreign job market - Minister Dilan Perera
by Ananda KANNANGARA
|
Here Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera is handing over a
cheque to one of the recipients. SLBFE Chairman Kingsly Ranawaka
and SLITFB Chairman Senaka Abeygunasekara are also in the
picture.
|
The Foreign Employment and Welfare Ministry has warned foreign job
agents, Sri Lankan expatriate workers and political elements in the
country to refrain from destroying the foreign job market for Sri
Lankans.
Minister Dilan Perera told the Sunday Observer that the names of such
job agencies and expatriate workers would be blacklisted in future, if
they repeatedly make attempts to carry out unnecessary campaigns and
work stoppages in foreign countries.
Referring to a recent incident, the Minister said that of the 143 Sri
Lankans who had gone to Libya for jobs, 118 had returned over a minor
dispute related to duty hours.
Minister Perera further said these workers were compelled to return
to Sri Lanka on the request of job agencies and certain politicians on
the grounds that they would receive a large sum of money in
compensation.
The Minister urged Lankan workers to solve matters of this nature
amicably with Sri Lankan envoys and labour officials deployed in foreign
countries before deciding to return to the country.
Minister Perera said the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE)
paid Rs. 8.6 million to the 118 workers from the Sri Lanka Insurance
Trust Fund Board (SLITFB) on a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
