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Foreign employment, one of the biggest contributors to the Sri Lankan economy has become one of the darkest topics to talk about today. With numbers rapidly increasing, foreign employment is another factor which proves that the majority of the country is still struggling to escape the hands of poverty. When such a situation prevails one wouldn’t expect these workers to also return in coffins, given capital punishment or being stoned to death. But reality is somewhat bitter. In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, Minister of Foreign Employment, Thalatha Atukorale, spoke about the measures taken to ensure their safety, issue of illegal migrants, legal procedures and future plans. Excerpts:

Q    Women employed overseas have faced grave circumstances during the recent past. What measures have been taken in order to ensure their safety?

There are people who get themselves registered at the Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB) and then go to their destination country. At the same time there are huge numbers of people who leave this country illegally. They leave without getting registered at the FEB and this is the biggest issue we are facing right now. At the moment we are finding it difficult to keep track of how many people are leaving the country this way. Because of this we do not have details about their families.
We are planning to introduce training programmes and also we are doing our best to stop illegal departures at the airport.
Therefore we have increased our cadres who are based at the airport and their task will be to trace people who are trying to leave the country illegally. Also we are trying to take a count of how many Sri Lankans are living in each country and we will work hard to ensure that all the registered workers are safe.

 

We are planning to introduce training programmes and also we are doing our best to stop illegal departure...

 

Q    Can you elaborate on how they would be safe?

For example, at present we don’t have any officers to look in to their legal matters. Overseas lawyers cannot appear for our workers in those countries. So, if there is an issue in Kuwait, we will need a Kuwaiti lawyer, who would appear for our workers in those countries.
The Police will be informed and once it comes to our notice we will do the needful to appear on behalf of them. The legal system is different in each country and therefore we have to take prompt actions in the case of a serious issue like a death or a rape case. Therefore we are planning to get lawyers employed in countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where a majority of Sri Lankan women work. These developments require heavy expenditures but still we are considering these options.

 

Q    For those who are registered under the bureau (SLFEB), what legal documentation do they have to sign?

They have to sign a contract with us and all documents are presented in all three languages. They are sent for two years but if they want to come before that they have to stick to certain conditions. When the agent chooses the people who will be going, they are being given an advance and in addition to that the cost of the ticket is also borne by the agent.
When sending workers abroad, the local agent has to inform the foreign agent and they have to be responsible for the workers. But now it has become a practice where some people take this money in advance, give the money to the family and come back. Places such as Saudi Arabia are 10 times bigger than our country. Therefore having one mission office with few people is not sufficient.
We cannot do all the developments at once, and it would at least take 2-3 years for us to get the system running smoothly.

 

Q    There are many agents who advertise about foreign job vacancies and send people abroad. What is the credibility?

They all have to get registered under the bureau. There are so many issues that we have to sort out with agencies also. But now I am in the process of amending the Foreign Employment Act so that at some point the agents will also be responsible for the workers going abroad. At present if there are any discrepancies taking place we suspend the agency for some time. If they have a court case or inquiry pending, the suspension will be extended until these legal matters are solved.

 

• Sometimes it takes time for them to inform us about incidents that happen there

• The biggest issue we are facing right now is the problem of illegal migrants

• The Foreign Employment Act should be amended

• We are planning to get lawyers employed in countries like Saudi

Q     As means of skills development some awareness programmes have been introduced in order to teach these workers about the laws, customs and language of their destination country. Are they effective?
At the moment we have 21 day training programmes; but starting from January 2016 everybody travelling to the Middle East especially as domestic workers have to attend a six week training programme. So, during the first week they will be taught grooming tips, manners, and during the second week they will be taught about the laws and customs and this training programme will end with an aptitude test during week six. Hereafter, it is only if they pass this exam will they be qualified to go overseas.

 

Q     Our workers hardly escape the horrible treatments that they get abroad. At times they are raped and in case if there is a slight deviation from customs, their law becomes more powerful. How do you see this?

We teach them the laws and customs during the training period. Except for those who leave illegally, every other woman who is registered under our bureau get this training. This is why we want lawyers in countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Normally when an incident takes place, we are not informed then and there. Unless there is some influence, they take some time to inform us, and once we hire the lawyers, their task will be to have an effective network with the Police, courts and FEB to get the information across, as fast as possible. Other than that we do not have any other system to get the information. When I paid a visit to Kuwait and Qatar I personally requested those ministers to implement a system where we could get their help in order to rescue Sri Lankans who are in trouble.

 

Q    Can you give a rough count of how many people leave the country annually?

I can’t give a figure off-hand, but the rate is high. We have some problems with the Act. There is no such punishment or anything against the people who are attempting to leave the country illegally.
At least their passports should be confiscated or they should be charged with penalty. Therefore until they pay the penalty they will have to be imprisoned; if not this matter is going beyond our control.
 Those who are not registered have a bigger risk of facing unfortunate incidents. There was a woman killed in Kuwait and we found out that she was not registered, then there was another suicide case where a 15 year old was sent abroad and at the age of 18 she committed suicide.
But according to the law no one at the age of 15 can leave the country for foreign employment.

 

Q   In case if one of these workers die, what will the families get?

There is an insurance scheme where, if a worker dies of accident, the family is paid Rs.400,000. Also if they get permanently disabled we take care of hospital charges and other matters. However we are trying to increase this amount. But all these are given only to those who are registered.

 

In future, unless a person is registered, we will not be responsible for the lives of those who depart illegally and face unfortunate incidents.

 

Q..    So the families of people who leave the country illegally will not get anything?

We have to reconsider the case and if it is genuine then we consider
giving compensation.

 

Q    Future plans to be spearheaded under your ministry?

In future, unless a person is registered, we will not be responsible for the lives of those who depart illegally and face unfortunate incidents.
Last year it cost us more than Rs.10 million to get down bodies and complete other documentation. We will implement this from January 2016. Also we will be launching another programme from January 8 to 14, where those who are willing to go abroad for foreign employment can come with their families and get registered.