Sri Lanka sends over 10,000 housemaids in 2012

11 April 2013 07:39 am - 1 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Despite calls by various pressure groups to end the practice of sending Sri Lankan housemaids to the Middle Eastern countries, the number of women departed seeking to be employed as housemaids in 2012 increased by 10,735 to 118,235 in 2012, the latest Central Bank Annual Report showed.

Being the largest manpower category headed off for foreign employment in 2012, housemaids account for 42.3 percent of the total departures, up from 40.9 percent in 2011.

In 2012, the total number of departures for foreign employment rose by 6.3 percent year-on-year to 279,482. Apart from the housemaid category, increases were also seen in clerical and related fields, middle level and professional categories.

According to the Central Bank Annual Report, the Middle Eastern countries continued to be the major market for Sri Lankan labour in 2012.

“Departures to these countries accounted for 94.4 percent of the total migrants in 2012, which mainly consisted of housemaids.

Four Middle Eastern countries, namely, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE together accounted for 84.3 percent of total migrant workers in 2012, compared with 80.3 percent in 2011.”

Following the recent brutal beheading of Sri Lankan housemaid Rizanna Nafeek, various pressure groups have called to end the practice of sending Sri Lankan women to the Middle Eastern countries as domestics.

In response, the government said they will be gradually phasing out the practice but urged that they cannot stop it overnight.

As the number one foreign exchange earner, Sri Lanka received US $ 5.98 billion by way of remittances in 2012.

Meanwhile, the pressure is also mounting from hard line Sinhala Buddhist groups urging the government to stop sending Sri Lankan women to Islamic countries governed by the Sharia law.

See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,News, Courier/Delivery, Food Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka.

Comments - 1

Nimal Friday, 12 April 2013 04:49 AM

10000 mothers or sisters or daughters sent to middle east to work as housemaids in 2012. MR is talking about speed limits of highways. Where did I go wrong?

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Sri Lanka sends over 10,000 housemaids in 2012

Comments - 1

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

Officials act salty as ‘Lanka Salt’ is exposed

Case of decomposing government’s “Organic Country” Project

BANNING CHEMICAL FERTILISER - RIGHT THING, WRONG LINE

SLPP eats humble pie over fuel price hike statement

GSP+: Isn’t there a way out?

Is Litro Gas above the regulator?

Statistical blunders expose administrative weaknesses

Most Viewed in News

Ranjan directed to Karapitiya Hospital

UPDATE - Duminda Silva set free on presidential pardon

Poor show for vaccines

Over 200 yr old De Soyza building collapses

Tender scam at Sports Ministry over gym equipment

Duminda’s pardon undermines SL’s rule of law- US Ambassador

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Duminda Silva now a free man!

People’s behaviour will determine further tightening of restrictions

Thanthirimale lit up again for Poson

President to address nation at 8.30 tonight

MIRROR CRICKET

England take early T20I series lead over Sri Lanka

New Zealand clinch World Test title

LPL 2nd edition from July 30-August 22-SLC

Sanath Jayasuriya signs as coach at Melbourne cricket club Mulgrave

SLC to offer 60 domestic contracts

SLC to donate Rs. 40 million for Olympics-bound athletes

Lakshan recovering and on course for debut

Settling on batting order the priority – Arthur