200 Lankan workers secure hospitality jobs in Iraq

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

For the first time 200 Sri Lankan workers in the hospitality industry have been able to secure employment in a US owned seven star hotel in Iraq.

Chairman Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, Seneka Abeygoonsekera said that the manager of the hotel and other senior officials were in Sri Lanka to select candidates for this hotel. "Over 1,000 attended these interviews," he said.

He said that these employees are provided accommodation meals and a junior steward could earn around US $ 110, 000. A chef could earn around US $ 500,000 while a Food and Beverage Manger's salary was negotiated at US $ 7,000. He said that the US based hotel chain is in to rapid expansion in the Gulf and they would recruit more Sri Lankans in the future.