Grading system for foreign job agencies

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry is set to introduce a grading system for all foreign employment recruitment agencies, from next year.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said, agents would be graded depending on their performance

Calling it a win-win mechanism the minister said it would give both the public and agents a fair chance. "The public can identify what the best and safest performing agencies are and also agencies that provide a better service too would be benefited due to enhanced business" he added.

According to Ministry sources not only the local recruitment agencies but also their foreign representatives too will be graded according to their performances.

According to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) sources it would be a five-tier grading system.

The mechanism hopes to give due recognition to agencies performing well by encouraging business in the way of rewards and appreciation. Agencies are to be graded on a points based system, based on criteria such as recruitment, dispute settlement, new visas, ratio between job orders and departures, payment of tax, renewal of licences, legal cases, complaints etc.

The points system is to be upgraded annually.