Job agency sub agents to be registered

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is planning to register sub-agents(believed to be in excess of 10,000), who are currently working in an unauthorized capacity in the procurement of migrant worker aspirants on behalf of licensed agents.

Their income is by way of commissions earned by introducing migrant worker aspirants to licensed agencies.

However, some sub-agents in the past have been found to be responsible for malpractices, including embezzlement of monies from

migrant worker hopefuls. Identifying and punishing them has been difficult as they have no legal binding.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said a proper mechanism would be developed shortly to register all sub agents in the country.

An SLBFE official said that the Bureau would publish paper advertisements shortly, calling for the registrations of such agents.

According to sources, they are to be appointed as overseas employment promotion officers under licensed agents.