Middle East recruitment agencies:

Quality check on facilities available

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Foreign employment authorities have sought the support of relevant Sri Lankan embassies in the Middle East, in a bid to run a quality check on facilities available at recruitment agencies in the region which cater to Lankan migrant labour.

Following a visit to Kuwait by Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka, the Bureau has issued strict orders to relevant employment agencies to maintain stipulated standards in their institutions.

The embassies have been advised to carry out a quality check, specially on the interim shelters maintained by these agencies, before giving approval to recruit Lankan migrant labour.

According to news reaching the Daily News, facilities at most of these interim shelters which provide temporary lodging to stranded migrant employees and newcomers (if there is a delay in recruitment procedures), have been found wanting in many instances.

A SLBFE spokesman said the authorities had issued the new quality check procedures, after Chairman, Ranawaka had personally found that the interim shelter facilities available at relevant recruitment agencies were inadequate, during his recent visit to Kuwait.

However, according to SLBFE, the safe houses maintained by Lankan embassies abroad have shown a marked improvement in recent times, and are maintaining high quality standards.

The safe house maintained by the Kuwait embassy too had come in for high praise from the SLBFE Chairman, sources said.

The SLBFE has also initiated a process to bring back all stranded Lankan migrant employees back to the country soon.

The embassies have also been advised to find alternative jobs for those willing to stay and work at a different locations. Meanwhile, the SLBFE said that Korean job opportunities for Lankan migrant labourers was back on track following a recent visit to that country by Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella and SLBFE Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka.

The Korean job offers which is in high demand in this country, were slightly hampered in recent times, due to the impact of global economic recession on Korean industries.