Employment migration:

SL, Kuwait ink deal

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State of Kuwait on employment migration.

The two countries will be involved in joint programmes on skills oriented capacity- building and cross - border manpower exchanges as per the MoU. The MoU, a first between the two countries, has also covered all aspects related to strengthening labour rights and welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Kuwait.

The MoU was signed by Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera on behalf of Sri Lanka and Kuwait’s Labour Minister during the weekend.

Minister Perera said the agreement will help ensure the welfare and protection of Sri Lankan workers in Kuwait.

He said Sri Lanka will also get more employment opportunities from Kuwait, especially for skilled migrant worker aspirants.

The two countries have agreed to strictly adhere to regulations specified in the job agreement when employing a migrant worker, according to the MoU.

It will also seek to protect the rights of both the employee and employer. The two countries have also agreed to the exchange of expertise on the field of employment migration.

There are about 260,000 Sri Lankans employed in Kuwait. A majority of the employed are female domestic workers, according to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment sources.