A commendable move
09 September 2016
The decision taken by the Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorale to fix a minimum wage of US dollars 300 for all Lankan expatriate workers should be commended. All job agencies registered with the Ministry will henceforth send Lankans for jobs which carry a minimum wage of Us 300 dollars (approx. Rs.43,000) per month. No doubt the sum is still inadequate given the hardship and sacrifices that have to be endured, particularly by our female domestic workers toiling in alien lands cut off from their families and loved ones, sometimes returning home in coffins.
But at least a start has been made and for this the Minister will no doubt receive the heartfelt gratitude of all Lankan expat workers. It is small consolation though for that section of our countrymen who earn the highest foreign exchange for the motherland. They are often ignored by governments who nevertheless tide over their economic woes with the collective paltry remunerations remitted to the country by these women, toiling under hazardous conditions. Various concessions though have been offered in the national budget to our expatriate workers such as enhanced duty free allowances. There have even been talk of pensions. But it is agreed that much needs to be done for this segment, given their contribution to the national economy.
The exodus of our housemaids to the Middle East began immediately following the Non Aligned Summit in Colombo where the government used its good offices with friendly Arab countries to facilitate the move. That was a time when employment had virtually dried up in the country and the people made to undergo severe economic hardships. The opportunity was seized upon with glee that saw a headlong rush to emplane for the various destinations in the Middle East. Many made their proverbial pot of gold, relatively speaking. Families who lived in hovels in far flung villages suddenly found themselves in well furnished brand new homes. Most commenced their own businesses and prospered. On the other hand, mass migration of females to the Middle East seeking employment also had its down side. The absence of the female spouse led to alcoholism, philandering, sexual abuse of children and broken homes. There were also the cases where females in jobs in the Middle East settling down with other partners causing the disintegration of home and family. However, generally speaking, the Middle East job boon in the late seventies brought riches and prosperity to a large segment of village families who otherwise would have been condemned to live their hand to mouth existence.
Be that as it may, the Minister has not disclosed how she is going to persuade prospective employers at the other end to comply with her request. To begin with, the Middles East job boom is all but over. In addition, the prevailing slump in the oil prices have also adversely affected the economy of Arab countries. True, the Minister recently visited some of the countries where Sri Lankan expatriate workers abound and extracted certain concessions on behalf of our workers. But will these be binding on the employers, most of whom who are known to mistreat our female domestic workers in their employ.
Besides, having assumed the status of a middle income country Sri Lanka should now strive to live up to this tag and stop exporting cheap labour to other countries. Leave aside the female domestic workers slaving in the Middle East, the country is also fast losing its skilled workforce at a time when it is set to embark on a massive development drive. Every effort should be made to retain our skilled workforce to be put to use in the development effort. With prospective overseas job seekers now being offered employment skills and expertise under various programmes initiated by the Foreign Employment Ministry it would indeed be a pity to lose them to other countries. Today South Korea has become a popular destination for youth seeking highly paid jobs.
True, job creation is still to get off the ground at the required pace and we are losing the youth who have acquired the skills and expertise courtesy the Sri Lankan government. It is ironic that these skills are being taken to other countries instead of being deployed where they ought to be.
On the other hand, the government cannot match the emoluments offered in countries such as Korea and Italy. The youth have no other alternative but to look for overseas employment opportunities to better their lot. Hence the government should think of ways of retaining this manpower within the country by creating attractive prospects. Because, if this trend continues we will lose the cream of our workforce to other countries. Hence the groundwork should be prepared for providing gainful employment to our youth. Employment opportunities should be created with foreign investment that would offer fruitful dividends to our youth, making them remain in the country.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has already announced plans for employment generation. The Volksvagon car manufacturing plant in Kuliyapitiya is often mentioned. Hopefully this project will get off the ground soon offering opportunities to our skilled youth.
But at least a start has been made and for this the Minister will no doubt receive the heartfelt gratitude of all Lankan expat workers. It is small consolation though for that section of our countrymen who earn the highest foreign exchange for the motherland. They are often ignored by governments who nevertheless tide over their economic woes with the collective paltry remunerations remitted to the country by these women, toiling under hazardous conditions. Various concessions though have been offered in the national budget to our expatriate workers such as enhanced duty free allowances. There have even been talk of pensions. But it is agreed that much needs to be done for this segment, given their contribution to the national economy.
The exodus of our housemaids to the Middle East began immediately following the Non Aligned Summit in Colombo where the government used its good offices with friendly Arab countries to facilitate the move. That was a time when employment had virtually dried up in the country and the people made to undergo severe economic hardships. The opportunity was seized upon with glee that saw a headlong rush to emplane for the various destinations in the Middle East. Many made their proverbial pot of gold, relatively speaking. Families who lived in hovels in far flung villages suddenly found themselves in well furnished brand new homes. Most commenced their own businesses and prospered. On the other hand, mass migration of females to the Middle East seeking employment also had its down side. The absence of the female spouse led to alcoholism, philandering, sexual abuse of children and broken homes. There were also the cases where females in jobs in the Middle East settling down with other partners causing the disintegration of home and family. However, generally speaking, the Middle East job boon in the late seventies brought riches and prosperity to a large segment of village families who otherwise would have been condemned to live their hand to mouth existence.
Be that as it may, the Minister has not disclosed how she is going to persuade prospective employers at the other end to comply with her request. To begin with, the Middles East job boom is all but over. In addition, the prevailing slump in the oil prices have also adversely affected the economy of Arab countries. True, the Minister recently visited some of the countries where Sri Lankan expatriate workers abound and extracted certain concessions on behalf of our workers. But will these be binding on the employers, most of whom who are known to mistreat our female domestic workers in their employ.
Besides, having assumed the status of a middle income country Sri Lanka should now strive to live up to this tag and stop exporting cheap labour to other countries. Leave aside the female domestic workers slaving in the Middle East, the country is also fast losing its skilled workforce at a time when it is set to embark on a massive development drive. Every effort should be made to retain our skilled workforce to be put to use in the development effort. With prospective overseas job seekers now being offered employment skills and expertise under various programmes initiated by the Foreign Employment Ministry it would indeed be a pity to lose them to other countries. Today South Korea has become a popular destination for youth seeking highly paid jobs.
True, job creation is still to get off the ground at the required pace and we are losing the youth who have acquired the skills and expertise courtesy the Sri Lankan government. It is ironic that these skills are being taken to other countries instead of being deployed where they ought to be.
On the other hand, the government cannot match the emoluments offered in countries such as Korea and Italy. The youth have no other alternative but to look for overseas employment opportunities to better their lot. Hence the government should think of ways of retaining this manpower within the country by creating attractive prospects. Because, if this trend continues we will lose the cream of our workforce to other countries. Hence the groundwork should be prepared for providing gainful employment to our youth. Employment opportunities should be created with foreign investment that would offer fruitful dividends to our youth, making them remain in the country.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has already announced plans for employment generation. The Volksvagon car manufacturing plant in Kuliyapitiya is often mentioned. Hopefully this project will get off the ground soon offering opportunities to our skilled youth.
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