Foreign job seekers will not be let down - Minister Dilan Perera

R.M. Somarathna Demodara Group corr

Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister,Dilan Perera, addressing the media at a conference in Badulla Riverside Auditorium said, “we have made vast strides in finding foreign employment while implementing the ongoing mega development projects in the country. Our workers’ sweat and toil has brought in foreign exchange which contributes towards the development of the country’s economy. Therefore effective measures should be taken to improve their social, education and economic standards”.

‘Errant foreign job agents have been legally dealt with irrespective of their political affiliation, he said.

Under aged girls will not be sent as housemaids nor will housemaids be treated as slaves; and opportunities will be provided for them to be recruited as housekeepers with a higher salary, the minister said.

Steps have been taken to establish Training Centres in every Divisional Secretariat Zone and Grama Niladhari Division to ensure that all foreign job seekers obtain a basic knowledge of the language of the country they leave for, and they should have an NVQ 3 Skill Certificate, he said.

“We have up to now cancelled the licence of 180 job agents and awarded star points to reputed job agencies. We have opened safe houses for thousands of stranded workers who sought employments through 17 of our missions and they are now provided meals at our expense”, the minister said.

About 25 media personnel were present at the conference.