Focus on foreign employment

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The number of Sri Lankans who were employed outside the country increased rapidly after decisions were taken at the Non Alignment Conference in 1976 to grant more job opportunities that were available, in the Middle Eastern region, to Asian countries, which had labour surpluses.

Since then the number of Sri Lankans migrating for jobs abroad, specially to Middle Eastern destinations has seen a rapid increase. Furthermore it has shown strong signs of continuity.

Sri Lanka’s Labour force numbers and the  representation 
percentages of expat  workers are given below

Year	Total Labour 	Migrants employed	As % of total 
	Force		abroad 			Labour Force 
2005	1,221,763	197,968			16.71 %
2006	1,447,707	224,678			19.05 %
2007 	1,642,455	276,728			21.93 %
2008	1,792,368	316,118 		23.68 %

Accordingly the amount of foreign revenue earned by these labour migrants too has increased over the years. It also has contributed significantly to reducing unemployment ratios in the country.

However, a formal mechanism for promotion, development and regularization of the industry had been lacking over the years with the exception of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, which was established in 1985 being the only institution concerned and involved in this challenging sphere.

But with the advent of a new Government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the manpower export industry in the country underwent several important changes which gave it the professional status it richly deserved.

Under the President's directive, authorities came up with new strategies\mechanisms to develop the industry.

The migrant worker fraternity who benifitted from these new moves never looked back since and as a result today has become the countries highest foreign exchange earner.

Authorities, in their quest to introduce new vistas\destinations has been able to find new and lucrative opportunities. As a result the migrant work force which stood close to 1.2 million in 2006 has risen to over 1.7 million at present with an ever growing annual outflow exceeding 200,000. The total number who depends from these migrant worker earnings is considered to be nearly 20 percent of the total population.

The number of labour migration to 
Middle East and other destinations 
are shown below

Year	Middle East	Other 
			destinations
2005	111,179		86,789
2006	128,282		96,396
2007	160,502		116,226
2008	189,039		127,079

In addition new measures have also been enacted to look beyond the long existing Middle Eastern markets and to improve the numbers of skilled migrants.

In addition new laws\regulations to strengthen migrant worker rights\welfare issues and to reduce malpractices too has been introduced.

Government Policy

Mahinda Chinthana clearly indicates the important policies that should be pursued by the authorities in order to improve safe migration for viable employment.

Mahinda Chinthana says: Open new avenues for skilled labour in fields such as nursing, shipping, computer science etc. to secure foreign employment.

An English medium nursing college to be established, which is aimed at fulfilling the growing demand for nurses in European countries.

Youth who are interested in securing employment overseas to be registered at the Divisional Secretariat and the required training will be provided to them.

A bank loan scheme to be introduced to cover the initial expenses of those who secure foreign employment.

Welfare projects to be introduced at village level for the benefit of the children of those who are employed abroad.

The increase in migrant worker remittances from 
2005 – 2008 is shown below

Year	Private Remittances	Remittances as a  
	(Rs. Millions)		% of export earnings
2005	197,968			31.02 %
2006	224,678			32.64 %
2007	276,728			32.72 %
2008	316,118			35.87 %

Special arrangements to be made to protect the female expatriate workers.

Initiate special housing loan schemes through state and private banks, with a 30 percent contribution being made by the Government through a suitable mechanism. A pension scheme be introduced for those who are employed abroad.

The duty free allowance presently available for returnees from employment abroad should be increased.

The Establishment Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry a long felt need was established in December 8, 2005.

The newly formed Ministry's objective was to become the best, skilled and professional labour provider in the global job market by competing satisfactorily with existing markets.

Its mission was to convert the entire labour migration sector into a demand driven process and make it highly competitive by introducing required structural changes together with necessary promotional and welfare activities to meet the international market challenges realizing the importance of its contribution to the national economy.

Later the incumbent Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was appointed by the President to head the newly formed Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry in 2007.

The following subjects had been allocated to the new Ministry;

Formulation and Implementation of Foreign Employment Programs

Promotion of Foreign Employment

Career Guidance on Foreign Employment

Training for Foreign Employment

Welfare of migrant workers.

Housing Development Programs for migrant workers.

Wages, terms and conditions of foreign employment

Regulation of fee levying of employment agencies

Administration of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No 20 of 1985.

A national policy on Labour Migration

In order to realize these objectives the Ministry shortly introduced a national labour migration policy.

The overall objective of the policy is to advance opportunities for all men and women to engage in migration for decent and productive employment in conditions of freedom, dignity, security and equity.

The policy recognizes the significant contribution of all Sri Lankan migrant workers to the national economy through foreign exchange remittances and other mechanisms.

It focuses on strategies for enhancing the benefits of labour migration and minimizing its negative impacts for the economy, society and migrant workers and their families consistent with the protection of all human and labour rights of migrant workers.

The policy focuses on three major areas: governance of the migration process, protection and empowerment of migrant workers and their families and linking migration and development processes.

A unique feature is that the policy has been developed through an extensive consultative process among all concerned stakeholders - relevant government ministries and agencies, employers' and workers' organizations, migrant associations, civil society and concerned international agencies.

The National Policy elaborates on Government's strategies, policy commitments and measures to address the major challenges and issues identified by all stakeholders in the consultative process. The Policy further contains a detailed work plan outlining action to deal with important policy issues that have been identified.

The Policy was officially launched by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry on February 24, 2009 and approved by the Cabinet on 30th April 2009.

Amendments to the SLBFE Act - Reducing malpractices

As manpower export in Sri Lanka became the stream of highest earned income of foreign exchange earner, malpractices in large scale too increased comparably.

As a result the introduction of strict laws and regulations to avoid these malpractices such as frauds, trafficking of women etc. became a necessity.

These laws\regulations came in the form of amendments to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985 and was passed by the Parliament on 24/09/2009.

By these amendments violation of provisions of the aforesaid Act has been controlled by increasing punishment and fines imposed by courts. It has also been introduced a method of recovery of cess from foreign employment agents.

Reducing the number of women and unskilled migrants

Despite the fact that women as domestic workers have earned billions of rupees to the national economy, their employment abroad has created a social degeneration in the country, Minister Rambukwella said recently.

Therefore, steps have been taken to reduce this category leaving the country to 25 percent in the future, he added. Accordingly, authorities have taken a number of steps to discourage the common practice of women migrating for work abroad as unskilled domestic workers.

Various alternative employment avenues has been created such as care givers. Various training programs too have been introduced to equip them with necessary training.

As a result the share of women migrants which stood at 63 percent in 2005 has come down to 48 percent in 2008.

The figure has further come down to around 45 percent, according to available figures so far for year 2009.

In addition the Government has also introduced various skills training programs to equip prospective labour migrants with knowledge\skills to compete in the highly competitive international markets.

Strengthening migrant worker rights and enhancing welfare measures

The Government under President Mahinda Rajapaksa in their short term in office has not only focused attention on promoting manpower export but also has laid emphasis in ensuring their labour rights and enhancing welfare facilities. In addition to introducing a national labour migration policy and amending the out dated SLBFE Act authorities has also focused on strengthening labour rights by entering into MOU's with relevant countries.

In addition, the SLBFE headed by Lawyer Kingsly Ranawaka has maintained a 24 hour hot line to entertain complaints. Through the direct intervention of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella relevant embassies abroad has been advised to repatriate beleaguered Lankans at the soonest possible who seek their protection and consent to return home due to abuse.

On the welfare side, scholarships to children of migrant workers to the tune of Rs. 35 to 40 million annually has been paid during the past few years.

Also an insurance scheme funded entirely by employers of migrant workers too has been introduced with the consent of relevant countries.

During year 2008 alone insurance money worth of Rs. 102,824,756 has been distributed to migrant workers and their families.

New Vistas

Authorities also has been in the look out for new and more lucrative destinations for prospective labour migrants.

As a result Sri Lanka today has been able to look beyond the traditional middle eastern markets and lessen the dependency on them.

Thus comparably lucrative markets such as South Korea, France, Libya, Romania, Poland, UK, USA, Israel etc. has opened their doors for Sri Lankan professionals.

In addition the numbers migrating to Middle East too has continued unabated with more emphasis on skilled categories.

Contribution of export labour in reducing unemployment and increasing foreign remittances

Today labour migrant remittances which constitutes around 36 percent of total foreign exchange earnings of the country has become Sri Lanka's highest foreign revenue grosser.

In addition it also has helped to lessen unemployment ratios by occupying a share of nearly 25 percent of the countries total employed labour force.

During the year 2009 so far both foreign remittances and the migrant workers numbers have continued its upward trend.