Travails of migrant workers

The report of the harrowing ordeal of Sri Lankan housemaid Anista Marie which we published yesterday is bound to refocus the spotlight on the trials, travails and tribulations still being endured by a section of our brethren to keep home fires burning.

According to the report the girl had been living under virtual house arrest for 10 years under her employer in Riyadh before being rescued by Saudi authorities.

Time was when newspapers were full of accounts of cruel treatment of our housemaids in the Middle East, with some of them arriving home in sealed coffins.

This was the time of the Middle East job boom in the 70s and 80s which saw a mass exodus of our women seeking the proverbial pot of gold. While it is true that a majority of them were able to shed their poverty and gain financial stability a good many had sad stories to narrate of blood, sweat and tears and unrealised dreams.

The harrowing tales saw a decline over the years barring a few isolated cases as women seeking housemaid jobs in the Middle East became routine with the end of the rush.

However, the ordeal of Anista once again brings into stark focus the plight of our migrant women domestic workers who are virtually 'thrown to the wolves' in an alien land.

As mentioned this is not the first time that cruelty suffered by our housemaids at the hands of their employers had been highlighted. Perhaps Anista was more fortunate in not having to suffer the fate many of our housemaids.

This time around the quick action taken by our Embassy officials with the help of the Saudi Police perhaps spared the girl from a much worse fate. We hope Rizana Nafeek would also be spared the executioner's axe as a result of the appeal process now on.

Mention here should be made about intervention of the Saudi authorities to rescue the girl from the clutches of the employers which is a novelty not seen in the past where the authorities there turned a blind eye to the goings on.

What is more noteworthy is the play up given to the girl's plight in a Gulf newspaper which could be considered as a radical departure from the hitherto lack of attention to the woes of Sri Lanka's domestic workers.

The Government should seize on these developments to redouble its efforts in securing safety guarantees for our migrant workers in the Middle East also taking advantage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's special friendship with Arab countries.

True, time and again we see Ministers visiting these countries to secure better remuneration and working conditions for our migrant workers.

While the Government has succeeded in entering into various agreements that has brought dividends to our migrant workers the plight of Anista demonstrates that there are still areas pertaining to their welfare which need to be addressed in a more meaningful manner.

Granting various incentives and concessions to returning Middle East workers such as increased duty allowances and tax waivers has to be acknowledged. However, more attention should paid to ensuring their welfare at the other end, for none of this largesse would be of any use if those returning are broken individuals, some of whom left with only the clothes on their body.

It need not be reiterated that it is these housemaids in the Middle East who keep our economy ticking with their dollar remittances. As such the State owes them a debt of gratitude for their contribution enduring harsh conditions.

While the newly launched pension scheme for our Middle East returners is to be commended what is needed more is to ensure that they return home in one piece.

Hence steps should be taken to establish a mechanism for a permanent liaison at State level to ensure our workers are treated with dignity and respect. It would be ideal if a Counselling service too is included to look into their mental well being given their isolation in an alien environment.

While we are on the topic of our middle East workers more attention should be paid in sending a value added product that would command better remuneration and other benefits.

This could give these workers a better bargaining position that would result in their being treated as equals.

For this, the Government should allocate additional budgetary provisions for imparting training to would be migrant workers so that they would be up to the modern demands and challenges.

There is a need for a comprehensive programme to create a marketable workforce for the Middle East and also other countries while at the same time ensuring better working conditions free of harassment and above all their physical safety to enjoy the fruits of their labour.