http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=95452&d=26&m=4&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Thursday, 26, April, 2007 (08, Rabi` al-Thani, 1428)
Sri Lanka Places Restrictions on Recruitment of Maids
Mohammed Rasooldeen, Arab News
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama
addressing reporters in Riyadh. (AN photo)
RIYADH, 26 April 2007 - Sri Lanka has imposed restrictions on
the recruitment of housemaids, which includes a total ban on hiring women who
have children less than five years of age.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, who wrapped up a
three-day visit to the Kingdom, told reporters yesterday that female domestic
workers who have children below five would not be sent abroad as housemaids.
"This is not only because of their discontented life here but it also creates
social problems back home," he said.
Homesickness has been identified as one of the primary causes
of labor problems among housemaids working in the Kingdom. "A housemaid who
came here leaving a five-month-old baby ran away from her workplace because she
desperately wanted to see her child," he added.
The Sri Lankan government has initiated programs to look
after the families of housemaids, by providing scholarships for their children
in government schools, but infants still need to be with their mothers, the
minister said, stressing that in future only women who are above 25 years of
age would be granted permission for overseas deployment.
Speaking about the problems of runaway housemaids,
Bogollagama said this is only a fraction of the housemaid population in the
Kingdom. "The problems are mainly due to misunderstandings between the employer
and their employee, non-payment of wages and ignorance about the cultural
environment in the host country," he said.
While stressing on his government's stance to blacklist job
agents in Colombo that send unskilled women as domestic aides, Bogollagama
requested the Saudi National Recruiting Committee to check on local recruiting
agents who are behind such nefarious activities.
Saudi Ambassador in Colombo Muhammad Mahmud Al-Ali and Sri
Lankan Ambassador A.M.J. Sadiq were present at the press briefing held at the
Royal Conference Palace.
Bogollagama said a second Sri Lankan airline would start
services to the Kingdom. "Besides SriLankan Airlines, the government is keen on
introducing Mihin Air to the Kingdom to serve the Sri Lankan expatriates here,"
the minister said, pointing out that the new airline, which began operations
early this year, is a government-owned budget airline. "We are negotiating to
modify our bilateral aviation agreement with the Kingdom to accommodate this
new airline," he said.
Mihin Air, which is fully funded by the state treasury, will
cater not only to migrant workers but also to the tourism industry as a low
cost carrier. "This will be a great boon to low-income migrant workers who
would like to save money on their travel. It would also provide customers with
an opportunity to travel at prices 50 percent cheaper," he said.
The minister described his talks with Saudi officials as
successful and said that his government is interested in strengthening
political, economic and cultural relations with the Kingdom.
Bogollagama said they had agreed to negotiate and finalize
bilateral agreements on avoidance of double taxation, combating terrorism,
extradition, prisoner exchange and investment protection. Earlier at a meeting
at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the minister said the country
offers an attractive package to foreign investors.
"Sri Lanka, an investment hub in Asia, has attracted a large
clientele of investors from all parts of the world since the country has
abundant natural resources and cost-effective labor for viable projects," he
stressed.
He pointed out that the Free Trade Agreement with India would
give free access to a larger market in the sub-continent to products
manufactured in the island.
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