Malaysia to offer minimum wages for SL workers

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Malaysia has agreed to introduce a minimum wage structure for Sri Lankan migrant workers on their soil, from 2012.

During discussions with a Sri Lankan delegation led by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera, the Malaysian authorities have also agreed to look into the possibility of eliminating outsource companies from the recruiting process by signing a government to government agreement.

According to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), there are about 26 registered agents who send workers to Malaysia. Some of them face difficulties as outsource companies do not provide salaries and facilities agreed by the local agents once the employees are in Malaysia.

Both the ministry and the SLBFE are taking action against local recruitment agents who are involved in such incidents. Meanwhile, the ministry is also urging Lankans not to go to Malaysia for work on visit visas as such people could become victims of racketeers.

The SLBFE Wednesday said that prospective job aspirants should sign their agreements in the presence of a Bureau official before departure to avoid any complications.

Minister Dilan Perera is currently in Malaysia on an employment promotion tour.

On Tuesday, the minister and the delegation met the Malaysian Human Resources Minister Y.B. Dato Maznah Binti Mazlan.

The minister will meet Malaysian state officials and recruitment agents in a bid to obtain more employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the skilled and semi-skilled categories.