National Human Resources Policy to be formulated

Disna MUDALIGE

'The country should pay more attention to improving skilled labour among overseas contract workers,' said International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama.

He observed that there are over 328,790 unskilled labourers and about 1.5 million house maids working overseas.

He also observed that there are over 1.6 million overseas contract workers and they bring seven billion USD in remittances per year. He observed that their earnings are directly flowing to rural areas strengthening the economy of deprived and marginalized groups.

Senior Minister Amunugama was speaking at the inauguration of national technical workshop on the formulation of the National Human Resources and Employment Policy held in Colombo, Thursday.

Human Resources Senior Minister D E W Gunasekere said that three regional consultation workshops were conducted in Kandy, Jaffna and Matara to collect data and views to draft the policy which was embarked in June this year.

The senior minister also observed that the current unemployment rate in the country is low as 4.9 percent. However he observed that studies have revealed that even though the unemployment rate has gone down, the poverty rate is on the rise in certain provinces such as the Uva. He noted that 62 percent of workers are belonging to the informal sector which is the most vulnerable group. The majority in this sector are drop outs from schools after the O-L examination.

A national policy has been initiated to address these issues related to the country's workforce. The national policy will be finalised by years end The objective of the policy is to promote the goal of full, decent and productive employment and the optimal utilization of human resources of Sri Lanka by improving labour market competitiveness and employability.

A website www.nhrep.gov.lk was also launched to receive public comments on the policy. Senior Ministers Secretariat Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa, International Labour Organization Country Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives Donglin Li also spoke.