More than 100,000 jobs for skilled Lankans in Middle East

Rasika Somarathna

Minister of Foreign Employment and Welfare Keheliya Rambukwella during his current tour of the Middle East, has been able to garner the support from several countries to secure more than 100,000 jobs for skilled manpower, in addition to better protocol on migrant worker rights and welfare.

The Minister is currently touring the region to promote Sri Lanka as a viable source for quality skilled labour, which is in high demand in the Middle East, with several countries experiencing an economic boom lately.

Even President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently emphasised the need to send more skilled workers with better perks for employment opportunities abroad, deviating from the common practice of sending a large number of housemaids for low salaries.

It is estimated that when it comes to Sri Lanka's total migrant worker strength in the Middle East, around 80 per cent are unskilled domestic workers.

MoUs (expected to strengthen migrant worker rights and welfare issues) with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are expected to be signed shortly. In addition the Minister is slated to hold discussions with Qatar and Libya with the latter agreeing to enter into an MoU with Sri Lanka expected to be signed on Sunday.

According to sources, Saudi Arabia employs the largest contingent of Sri Lankan migrant workers estimated at 460,000 and in Kuwait the number is around 212,000. Qatar also employs 130,000 Lankan migrant workers.