Lankan migrant workers in Saudi to get better deal

Rasika Somarathna

Several initiatives have been mooted to propagate matters pertaining to the rights and welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, as a result of Minister for Foreign Employment and Welfare Keheliya Rambukwella's latest visit to the Kingdom.

The Minister who engaged in talks with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Mohommed Ibin Naif has been able to garner the support to release all Sri Lankan prisoners who have been detained in Saudi remand prisons for a long period without proper charges.

The Prince has also agreed to release prisoners who are languishing in prisons after serving their imposed term, and steps would be taken to bring back all these people immediately said Chairman of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Kingsley Ranawaka.

In addition the Saudi authorities have agreed to set up a training facility for Sri Lankan female domestic workers and a team from the Kingdom is expected shortly in the island for a feasibility study added the Chairman.

As a result of deliberations between Saudi Arabian Labour Minister Ghazi Al Gosaibi, Minister Rambukwella has also been able to get the nod for a special Insurance scheme to take care of all housemaids working in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has agreed to address matters pertaining to salary anomalies and non payment of wages in addition to agreeing on a condition where all housemaid salaries would be deposited at an NRFC account, which would be opened prior to their departure.

The SLBFE Chairman said there is a high demand in Saudi Arabia for Sri Lankan migrant workers and despite the Saudi authorities taking measures to minimise the import of manpower, Sri Lanka would be assured of a major quota.

Saudi Arabia employs the largest number of Sri Lankan migrant workers which amounts to over 600,000 with 80% of them being female domestic workers.