Middle East jobs:

New guidelines to be mooted

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is contemplating to introduce a new set of guidelines when sending migrant workers to the Middle East for employment.

The initiative which is still in the discussion stage, is to focus on enhancing safety and welfare migrant workers, SLBFE sources said.

Meanwhile, in the backdrop of a female domestic worker returning to the island from Saudi Arabia suspected to have undergone physical torture, the SLBFE has decided to suspend the activities of both the local agent and its overseas representative who had facilitated the worker’s employment. The condition of L G Ariyawathy, who returned to the island with 18 metal objects including 13 nails inside her body, is reported to be stable after doctors removed some objects by surgery Friday.

A high powered SLBFE team including its legal manager left for Saudi Arabia yesterday to discuss matters with Saudi officials.

RS