Jobs for Lankans in Libya
Rasika SOMARATHNA
COLOMBO: Libya has opened its doors for Sri Lankan migrant workers
with a major share of the country’s foreign job market being offered to
skilled Lankan labour, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed between the two countries on Sunday.
According to the MoU signed between the two countries, Lankans would
be offered lucrative opportunities mainly in the construction, port, oil
and tourism sectors.
According to sources, emphasis has been laid in promoting skilled
manpower in accordance with Sri Lanka’s recent policy change of giving
prominence to such workers with better perks to discourage the common
practice of sending untrained labour.
Libya is considered as an awakening economic giant in the region with
the country experiencing an economic boom specially in the construction,
oil and tourism industries.
The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Foreign Employment and Welfare
Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella is touring the Middle East to garner
support from countries in the region for better employment opportunities
and effective protocol on migrant worker rights and welfare.
The Government of Qatar has also requested Sri Lanka to provide them
with skilled para medics for opportunities in the health sector.
The Qatari Government has mooted a plan to construct an ultra modern
health village in the country and the majority of employment
opportunities is expected to go Sri Lanka’s way as a result of
authorities being impressed by the quality of Lankan workers employed in
the country’s health sector.
Sri Lanka’s export income depends on migrant worker remittances which
constitutes 35 per cent of the total earnings. |