Fourth Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD):

National policy to ensure welfare of migrant workers

Text of the speech by External Affairs Deputy Minister Gitanjana Gunawardena, at the Heads of Delegations meeting on the future of the GFMD held from November 8 to 11 at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The phenomenon of migration today cannot be separated from injustices of the international economic order and widening economic and social disparities between and within countries, worldwide. While we must deal with the consequences of migration, it is essential to address its root causes, in particular, factors that compel people to migrate, often under conditions that compromise the integrity and dignity of human person.

Migrant workers contribution to economy important. File photo

We take considerable satisfaction in that Sri Lanka was amongst the first States that ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their families, on March 11, 1996.

ILO conventions

Sri Lanka has ratified all core ILO conventions and endorsed the ILO Multilateral framework on Labour Migration - which was the basis for the National Policy on Migration.

Sri Lanka’s concern arises from the situation that out-bound labour migration has increased more than ten-fold in the last two decades. According to provisional estimates for 2009, 1.83 million Sri Lankans were employed overseas that year, which was around 22.68 percent of the total labour force of the country.

Sri Lanka is firmly committed to addressing the root causes of migration. At the national level, we are implementing a comprehensive program of development to combat poverty and unemployment with a view to improving the living standards and quality of life of our people.

We are committed to achieving a just and equitable world order through our involvements within the framework of the United Nations and its specialised agencies.

In October 2008 Sri Lanka adopted its National Labour Migration policy incorporating strategies, concepts and best practices as enshrined in international instruments.

We are encouraged that the National Policy has received international recognition as a best practice and we are pursuing the policy objectives through creation of multiple instruments for its implementation.

We earnestly appeal to labour receiving countries to make every effort to provide the migrants and their families the basic necessities, such as affordable health care, welfare facilities and security.

Basic necessities

Our Government has adopted a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach towards developing a national policy on migration health. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which is the National Focal Point for promoting and regulating foreign employment for Sri Lankans, is building partnerships to achieve the objectives of health, well-being and happiness of Sri Lankan migrant workers and their families through bilateral agreements.

The Bureau is also currently establishing partnerships with the academia to conduct independent research in fields that impact on the well-being and welfare of migrants and their families.

With increasing opportunities for skilled migrant workers, Sri Lanka is committed to upgrading the skills of the outbound migrant employees. Whilst improving their earning capacity, this will also better equip them to enhance their skills and experience before returning home to contribute towards the development of Sri Lanka.

We are committed to optimising the development benefits of Labour Migration, with special emphasis on those who carry the largest burden of sacrifice, the migrant workers and their families who endure separation for over long periods and long distances, thousands of miles and many years apart.

We urge the adoption of measures to ensure facilities for migrant workers to remit their savings to their families regularly and at reasonable transfer charges.

Developed countries

Deputy Minister Gitanjana Gunawardena at the GFMD held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka has requested the United Nations, other international organisations, the developed countries and international lending institutions to think primarily of the worker.

In his Address to the 97th session of the ILO, he underlined and I quote:

“... a satisfied worker will be the key to a country’s prosperity... It is the worker who is at the centre of development... A worker, whether in the agricultural, industrial, commercial or any other sector, is the core of development.”

Sri Lanka honours the contribution of migrant workers to the growth of the economy and we urge the participating nations to commit and dedicate themselves to the continued improvement of the working environment and their health, welfare, safety and security, until they return to their homes.

Sri Lanka remains committed to working with other member States, within the framework of the United Nations and its specialised agencies to strengthen the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers and their families, in keeping with the theme of this GFMD Conference, ‘Partnerships for Migration and Human Development: Shared Prosperity, Shared Responsibility.’