Migrant workers want to return home

6 May 2011 10:32 am

The Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB) said today that a number of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Jordan have said they want to come back home after migrant workers in two hostels in Jordan were found gagged and bound recently.

An FEB official said the migrant workers who were found tied up on two separate occasions in a similar manner were released unharmed and have not suffered any serious injuries or been hospitalized despite reports which claim that they were.

“The migrant workers have all been released and are safe and healthy and can get back to work now,” an FEB official said. He said he could not say how many wanted to return to Sri Lankan and said that it has still not been finalized.

Meanwhile the FEB said that it is hopeful that the recent strikes by Sri Lankan garment workers in Jordan demanding for a salary increase will end in the next few days. The garment workers have been on strike demanding JOD (Jordanian Dinars) 150. A migrant Garment workers in Jordan earns on average an JOD 110 (Rs.19,000).

He said that those on strike are also trying to persuade other migrant workers to stop work as well.  “It is unreasonable for them to request a salary increase as it is not included in the terms of their agreements. However, the authorities in Jordan are likely to compromise be making a small increment in their salaries. (Olindhi Jayasundere)