Jobs aplenty in Libya for Lankans

Rasika Somarathna

Around 30,000 - 35,000 skilled Lankan migrant workers are to set sail to Libya, during the first quarter of 2010, to take up employment opportunities in the fields of health, tourism and constructions, in accordance with an MOU signed between the two countries recently.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment quoting Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that arrangements were being made to send these workers to Libya during the first quarter of next year in accordance with a request made by them.

The SLBFE also said that the Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry Secretary, Sunil S Sirisena was presently in Libya to make arrangements under the guidance of Minister Rambukwella.

They also added that the Libyan opportunities, which would offer relatively higher wages than some other popular destinations such as the Middle East, would be co-ordinated by the Ministry and SLBFE and would be executed in a very transparent and professional manner, to alleviate irregularities.

Libya - considered as an awakening African economic power, recently decided to open its doors for Lankan migrant workers (after being impressed by available local talent\expertise), mainly in the fields of health, construction and tourism to supplement its specialised manpower needs.

However, according to latest reports tricksters who earn mega bucks by duping migrant worker hopefuls, has not spared any time in directing their energies on the lucrative Libyan job offers (latest destination for Lankan foreign employment seekers).

The SLBFE said recently that they had received a large number of complaints from duped migrant worker hopefuls, who had paid monies to rogue recruiters in the hope of securing early employment opportunities in Libya. In the wake of this latest ruse involving foreign employment, the SLBFE Chairman Kingsly Ranawaka recently made an open appeal to all migrant worker hopefuls, to validate their source of employment before committing themselves.

He said that the prospective migrant workers could either approach the head office of SLBFE or regional offices directly or could obtain relevant information through Bureau hot line 011-2880500 or by visiting the web site www.slbfe.lk.

The SLBFE said recently that their sleuths had nabbed more than 90 such rogue recruiters during the first six months of this year alone and that raids were continuing on a regular basis to nab tricksters.

They also added that the public could play a vital supportive role in this regard by informing relevant authorities without delay when confronted with any suspicious activities.