A National Policy on Labour Migration
First in S.Asia to exclusively deal in labour
migration
The Government is planning to introduce a
National Policy on labour Migration to usher in better protocol on
labour migration policies and management. The final draft of the
proposal being prepared by the Foreign Employment and Welfare Ministry
is to be presented to the Cabinet for further perusal under the guidance
of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Sri Lanka Bureau for Foreign Employment Chairman Kingsley
Ranawaka said the proposed document would include three key windows such
as Regulations on Good Governance, Protection and Welfare of Migrants
and Development Aspects of Labour Migration.
According to Ranawaka the proposed National Policy being prepared
under the purview of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is considered to be
the first of its kind in South Asia prepared to deal exclusively in
matters pertaining to labour migration.
Under the proposed Good Governance theme, matters such as improving
recruitment procedures, sub-agents and foreign employment agents,
minimising exploitation and preventing human trafficking are to be
looked into.
The proposed National Policy will also introduce better protocol on
migrant worker rights, issues pertaining to salary/perks, better welfare
facilities, personal issues during pre and post-migration periods and
effective measures to help relatives at home.
In the development aspect, the proposals are to concentrate on
matters such as maximising migrants contributions to the national grid,
new vistas in foreign employment, skilled manpower to cater to modern
day demands, etc. According to statistics, the Sri Lankan migrant worker
fraternity is considered to be in excess of 1.6 million with another
220,000 new recruits joining the force annually.
When it comes to Sri Lanka's export earnings, the migrant worker
remittances which constitutes 36 per cent, is only second to the income
earned through apparel exports.
During 2007, migrant worker remittances stood at US $ 240 million and
according to sources, the figure is on the upward trend. According to
analysts, with new vistas on the horizon and considering the growth
rate, foreign employment is set to eclipse apparel imports as Sri
Lanka's biggest foreign exchange earner in the near future. |