Foreign employment realm: Sri Lanka earned Rs. 1.5 billion in 2003 as foreign exchange earnings from Sri Lankans employed overseas. Foreign Employment is one of the three highest foreign exchange earners that fills the Treasury, replacing the age old and traditional foreign exchange earners Tea, Coconut and Rubber.

Sri Lanka's economy was heavily dependent on the three traditional exports, Tea, Coconut and Rubber until 1970s which saw a fraction of society going overseas looking for greener pastures without the `open blessing' of the State. Emerging times of the decades that followed also saw a great demand for Sri Lankan labour but Sri Lanka was not very receptive in the early years of the 1970 decade.

At the time the Foreign Employment subject was handled by Labour Ministry through the arm of Employment Exchange. In 1977, the Foreign Employment Division was established under the Labour Department and thus paved the way to acknowledge the untapped vast potential in the foreign employment trade.

With the Open Economy coming into operation the `playing field' was left wide open. The gates that were kept closed for long years under heavy guard were open in full swing. A sea of people specially women folk were seen crossing the `seven seas' to reach greener pastures. The Mass Exodus in a way was a blessing for an emerging economy to thrive and strengthen the coffers.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which took over the responsibility of issuing licenses to conduct business in an organised manner, regulate operations of the licensed Foreign Employment Agents; ensure safety, welfare of the Sri Lankans employed overseas was established as a Public Corporation by Act No.22 of 1985.

The new Act which paved the way to create SLBFE gave powers to the Minister in charge to appoint 11 directors to this Board. The Board thus established helped expand the trade in migrant workers and the expansion saw a recognisable proportion.

We also saw the emergence of the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA), the authentic body that represents the interests of the recruiting bodies.

The Association became a very important component and Licensed job agents had to be members of that Association when they go for a renewal of their agencies.

Thus today there are around 700 licensed job agents who hold ALFEA Membership which plays a crucial role in providing job opportunities.

With the passage of time and the added experience gathered in the new venture the Foreign Employment arm of the Labour Ministry had to act to ensure welfare measures, medical facilities, health insurance and loans without interest from banks, facilities at the Bandaranaike International Airport at the Arrivals and Departures, appoint welfare officers at the foreign embassies in the respective countries to closely monitor the activities of Job agencies and take appropriate action to deal with issues pertaining migrant workers.

The Sri Lankans who courageously went overseas, specially the womenfolk, who comprise over 70 per cent of the total migrant workers found employment as domestic aides in the Middle East Countries, UAE, Dubai and Kuwait.

Men found employment in countries such as Singapore, Maldives, Hong Kong, Cyprus and lately, Korea, Italy and Malaysia in various fields.

Many face problems due to the language barrier. Lack of good education, lack the knowledge of the language spoken, not being accustomed to traditional and cultural values of the country and as a result they failed to appreciate the traditions and values of the countries they went to serve in.

For these reasons many had to suffer and the Government also realised by experience that the country needed to send people with some basic knowledge of language, values and skills. They needed training to demand or bargain for a higher and more dignified placement than a position of a housemaid. But many things mentioned here are yet to turn to reality.

With the change of Governments and the respective Labour Ministers under whose wing the Foreign Employment subject came, many different initiatives were taken. The ALFEA which played an important role has faded away and from the 700 Agents around 300 are only active and others suddenly prop up and then go down unheard.

The Bureau which was established for an administrative purpose moved into job recruitment via a company and according to some that agency was meant only to recruit workers for Korea and lately to Malaysia.

Media reported from time to time that those who had gone to Korea and Malaysia keep on coming back as the terms and conditions under which they had gone have been violated by the respective employers. They also were critical of the lethargic attitude of the officers placed in the Sri Lanka embassies when they are informed of the difficulties the migrant workers face.

There was a time where the job agents were active. These job agents despite their many shortcomings did provide an opportunity to many thousands of men and women to go overseas to earn a better living. But there seems to be something lacking today and there is something wrong somewhere. But the country needs much more foreign exchange than over the past few decades.

The only hope is more job opportunities overseas and the best people to handle the situation is the job agents. Reward them for the good work and punish them if they violate the law or harass the job seekers in one form or the other. Finding more employment overseas will also help to reduce unemployment in the country.

There were also instances of rude treatment meted out to the migrant workers and some had come back in a worse state. Some lost their lives and others limbs. The sad stories of those who had to suffer were highlighted in the media and remained at that.

There were also stories of families getting separated and vice entering these families destroying the much cherished customs and cultures as a result of breadwinners migrating for work.

This is something to ponder. What is necessary is to have a special arm to monitor, control and at the same time harp on them that they needed to preserve their identity, wherever they may be. The country has hopes in Athauda Seneviratne, the new Minister and eagerly awaits the dawn of a new era under him.

By way of suggestion `Gamaya' wishes to say that it would be of great help to have an `Advisory Body' consisting of former chairmen and experienced job agents without blemish. It is also necessary to give more opportunities to job agents who have done veritable service to the country and get them involved more and more for a better tomorrow.