Dilan raps errant job agents

Rasika Somarathna

The authorities will not hesitate to pounce on errant agents who engage in improper conduct and fail to treat job seekers in a dignified and fair manner, Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera said.

On the same note he said that authorities will also not fail to appreciate best practices by foreign employment agents by way of rewards and recognition.

The minster said that agencies accused of malpractices will be suspended until investigations against them were over.

While noting that Sri Lanka's migrant worker fraternity was the country's biggest foreign revenue earner the minister stressed that his ministry will make every effort to give them the recognition they richly deserve and help those workers and their families in whatever way necessary.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Colombo District Rataviruwo organization at John de Silva Theatre the minister said that this was exactly why an organization like Rataviruwo was established.

At present, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and the Ministry is carrying out the task of establishing branch organizations in all corners of the country. It is to be developed as a people's movement involving state authorities, migrant workers and their families, among others. The aim is to bring in positive changes in the economic and social levels of migrant workers and their families. About job agents, the minister went on to say that the present five-tier grading system which applies to local foreign employment agents, will be extended to their counterparts in foreign lands as well.

Calling it a win-win mechanism the minister said it would give both the public and agents a fair chance. "The public can identify what the best and safest performing agencies are and also agencies that provide a better service too would be benefited due to enhanced business," he added.

Agencies are currently graded on a points-based system, depending on their performance in areas such as number of recruitments, dispute settlement, new visas, ratio between job orders and departures, payment of taxes, renewal of licenses, legal cases, complaints etc. The points are upgraded annually.

Meanwhile, SLBFE will suspend transactions with over 600 job agents in several labour receiving countries accused of various malpractices during the last one and a half years. SLBFE officials have advised local agents to refrain from engaging in any transactions with these elements.

Yesterday's event was part of a 10 day programme organized by the SLBFE and the Ministry to mark the International Migrants' Day which falls on December 18. In a separate event the SLBFE in collaboration with 'Dialog' also introduced a mobile connection with exclusive facilities for those leaving for employment abroad. They also held an event at the Bandaranaike Internatioanl Airport to appreciate migrant workers both inbound and outbound.

The events were attended by foreign employment officials, politicians, representatives of the International Labour Organization and labour receiving countries and former migrant workers and their families.