Qatar to address welfare concerns of Lankan workers

Irangika Range

Sri Lanka entered into a bilateral service agreement with Qatar to address the security concerns and welfare facilities of Sri Lankan migrant workers and to open doors to increased employment opportunities for skilled workers.

The Secretary said a joint committee has been appointed to ensure that conditions and stipulations in the service agreement were properly implemented. The members of the committee would meet in the future to make observations and take necessary decisions.

Following the bilateral talks held by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella with Qatar's Labour Minister Dr. Sultan Al Dawsari on job security and welfare facilities of the Sri Lankan labour force employed in Qatar, a MoU was signed between the two countries in Colombo on January 9, 2008.

The Qatari Government is of the opinion that Sri Lankan professionals and workers were creative, skilled and productive and they have been employed around the globe. Therefore, both the Government and the private sector are very keen on providing more job opportunities to Sri Lankan workers.

"We have emphasized the need for Qatar to implement a systematic insurance scheme for Sri Lankan workers to cover them during working as well as off duty hours and the Qatar Labour Minister agreed to the matter," he said.

"Qatari employers have been educated on the stipulations on worker rights and responsibilities laid down in the service agreement. Qatar is a very promising labour market and Sri Lankan workers would be more protected and benefited through this agreement. "This is a labour agreement and has been modified to meet the requirements of the day to day needs," he said.

Head of Committee of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Qatar Hussain Yoosuf Al-Mullah said Qatar employers had a very high opinion of the skills, knowledge and efficiency of Sri Lankan workers.

Nearly 130,000 Sri Lankans are already employed in Qatari and the Qatari Government had identified them as an efficient workforce. "Therefore, we are considering to increase the visa quotation for the benefit of Sri Lankan workers as well," he said.

The Qatari Government expects to further strengthen bilateral co-operation with Sri Lanka in a number of industries enabling Sri Lankan professionals and technicians to offer their services in Qatar.