SLBFE to suspend dealings with errant job agents

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has taken steps to stop dealings with over 600 employment agents in several labour receiving countries accused of various malpractices during the last 16 months.

The SLBFE has advised local foreign employment agents to refrain from engaging in any transactions with these agents. In 2011, the SLBFE suspended dealings with 445 job agents in labour receiving countries with the highest being from Saudi Arabia (166).

However, authorities may revoke the ban if any such agent provides substantial evidence to prove that the claims against them are not valid, a SLBFE official said.

Meanwhile, the SLBFE is also 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 through introducing migrant worker aspirants to licensed agencies, the SLBFE official said.

However, some sub-agents in the past have been found to to have engaged in malpractices, including embezzlement of monies from migrant worker hopefuls.

According to sources, they are to be appointed as overseas employment promotion officers under licensed agents and be given a valid identification document to engage in their profession.