Foreign remittance tops US $ 6 mn mark

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

Sri Lankan foreign remittances will reach a record US $ 6 million mark by the end of this year. This figure was US $ 5.2 billion last year and $ 4.7 billion in 2010. One of the main reasons for the figure rise was the policy shift of sending more qualified and semi qualified Sri Lankans for overseas employment. In addition moving away from the traditional Gulf market too has helped Sri Lanka to consolidate its position in the foreign remittance market.

It is estimated that over 1.6 million were employed overseas and a further 125, 000 Sri Lankans work overseas unregistered with the Foreign Employment Bureau.

L. A. Ranjith Perera board member of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) and Chairman Lagodan Pvt. Ltd, one of the oldest and pioneering foreign recruiting agencies in Sri Lanka, said that this year this figure was expected to increase by a further 30 to 40 %.

He said that the Minister of Foreign Employment and Welfare, Dilan Perera had taken several meaningful steps which was also helping this industry a great deal. “The Rata Viruvo’ concept mooted by him has also given self-respect to foreign migrant workers.” He said that they are now in the process of exploring new markets in Australian and Europe where ‘Care Givers’ are in demands.

“This is something more than being a house maid. The employee looks after elders and also under take to check their ‘blood pressure’ and even ‘blood sugar level.”

He said that ‘Care Givers’ get a salary of around Rs. 400,000 and a special course to train ‘Care Givers’ has been initiated by the Open University on the instructions by Namal Rajapaksa MP and Chairman, SLFEB, Amal Senadhilanka.

He said that in addition they are also looking to grab a share of opportunities open for ‘English speaking taxi drivers’ in Australia, a market dominated by neighbouring countries.

He said that Lagodan in the previous year had sent nearly 1,000 semi skilled people for employment and this year their target would increase by 50 %. “We are also looking for opportunities for Sri Lankans in the mining industry in Australia where they take home a salary in the excess of over RS. 300, 000,” he said.

He said that they do not charge any money from recruits and operate on the agency commission of Rs. 7,000 provided per employee by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau and the fee between US $ 200 to 500 provided by overseas companies by whom the recruitment is done.

He said that currently there are over 1,100 registered recruitment agencies and sadly over 500 unregistered agencies which charge huge amounts from Sri Lankans promising lucrative ‘jobs’