Conditions for maids going abroad via private means

Atapattu BANDARA

The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) has decided to halt sending housemaids who find employment by private channels to foreign countries, including Jordan, unless the employer deposits refundable $1,000 at the Sri Lankan mission in such countries.

Employers and housemaids are incorporated in the system and this has been effective from June 1, said SLFEB chairman Amal Senadilankara.

The decision was taken to prevent low wages and minimize harassment to housemaids, he said. The chairman said housemaids who complete their service agreement should be given free air tickets, arrears and free medial service. But these conditions are not followed by the employers. "If any injustice occurs to a housemaid, compensation would be reduced from the deposited money. The balance will be handed over to the employer as per the condition, he said.

The Bureau will allow to send those who find employment by private channels only if the employer has deposited US $ 1,000 together with air ticket and job agreement, he said. The employer will have to deposit the same amount for the employees who migrate through job agencies after considering prevailing conditions.

Around 28,984 housemaids found employment by private channels in foreign countries in 2011 and 11,165 this year, he said.