SLBFE nabs several women with forged employment documents

Rasika Somarathna

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foriegn Employment (SLBFE) sleuths yesterday nabbed several women, including an underaged girl who tried to migrate for foreign employment, with the aid of forged documents.

In two separate incidents, sleuths nabbed four females at the Katunayake airport who had forged SLBFE emblems in their passports. All four were trying to leave for Saudi Arabia for employment as domestic aides.

The SLBFE uses a special stamp on the passports of Sri Lankan migrant workers to officially confirm their status as duly authorised labour migrants, before departure.

A foreign employment sub agent responsible for using a forged SLBFE emblem on passports was arrested later. He is suspected of trying to send two of the above identified females abroad with the aid of forged documents.

Sleuths also nabbed two other females including an underaged girl trying to fly to Malaysia to work as domestic aides. "They were trying to go abroad for employment with the aid of visit visas instead of employment visas," a SLBFE spokesman said.

Sri Lankan domestic worker, Rizana Nafeek, who was executed for allegedly killing her employers infant whilst in her care had also migrated on forged documents. At the time of the infant's death in 2005, Rizana was only 17 according to her birth certificate. A recruitment agency in Sri Lanka had altered the birth date on Nafeek's passport to present her as 23, so she could migrate for work.

The High Court in Colombo, later sentenced two recruitment agents to two years imprisonment for the falsification of Nafeek's travel documents.

SLBFE Chiairman Amal Senalankadikara yesterday warned all prospective migrants in search of employment or related avenues, to be vigilant and verify details from proper authorities before committing themselves.

He said the SLBFE had set up a far reaching mechanism to help prospective labour migrants with sub-branches in out stations and a general Hot Line to cater to information seekers.

The Chairman urged foreign employment seekers to use these facilities and verify details from authorities before giving money or committing themselves.

He also said that under the instructions of Minister Dilan Perera, the SLBFE was planning to bring in several new measures to tighten efforts on preventing malpractices.

"SLBFE officials could be reached through their Hot Line 011-2880500 or information seekers could use the SLBFE website for details," Senalankadikara said.