Lanka-Manila tie up on migrant labour

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: A joint front has been mooted between the Sri Lankan and Philippines Governments to further develop aspects related to export labour and enhance bargaining power in global markets.

The proposal put forward by Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for a joint bid during the Labour Migration Development Forum in the Philippines was well received by the authorities there and as a result, the two countries would enter into a Memorandum of Understanding soon, sources said.

The Philippines is considered as the world leader when it comes to export labour while Sri Lanka has made rapid strides in the field in recent times.

The joint collaboration is expected to open up new vistas for both countries in the global manpower market. According to sources, a Steering Committee has already been formed with Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka and the CEO of Labour Migration Department in the Philippines acting as joint heads.

A high level delegation from the Philippines is expected in the country during December

to finalise matters pertaining to the MoU, SLFEB sources said.

The two countries are expected to exchange know-how pertaining to training, knowledge etc. in accordance with the new trends in the global export labour market to increase competitiveness.

In addition better protocol is sought with regard to salary, perks and welfare issues pertaining to labour migrants, SLFEB sources said. According to latest statistics, the Sri Lankan Labour migrant worker fraternity is considered to be in the excess of 1.6 million with another 220,000 (average) new recruits joining the force annually.