Adel Arafa
The MoL is rectifying the status of workers sponsored by closed firms by either transferring their sponsorship to other employers or cancelling their residency visas without a ban, an official said.
Jassim Jamil, Director of Work Relations at the ministry, told Khaleej Times, “In case a firm was closed for any reason, workers must report to the Ministry of Labour (MoL) to correct their status. A worker staying in the country — whether he works for another sponsor or not — is considered a violator of the labour law because he was mainly brought from his home country to join a certain company. He is not allowed to work in another firm without correcting his status.”
Failing to do so, he will be breaching the labour minister’s resolution for recruiting non-Emiratis. The ministry will not accept his application for transfer of sponsorship. His labour card will be cancelled and a one-year ban imposed on him.
Jamil urged workers whose firms have gone out of business to immediately alert the ministry and express their interest to work with other companies or leave the country without a ban and this will allow them to come back for work without any obstacles.
Jamil was reacting to applications of a group of workers to cancel their labour cards and depart the country. The labour officials explained to them their rights and how to keep themselves on the safe side.
The workers reported to the ministry after their company was closed down for good. The workers were happy to hear the news that they can shift to another employer without obtaining the consent of the current sponsor.
adel@khaleejtimes.com
Khaleej Times Online > NATION
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Lankan woman held for selling runaway maids to Hassawi dens Diplomat’s son detained in liquor trafficking
Arab times online
KUWAIT CITY, July 14: Jahra securitymen have arrested three men for stealing iron from the Amghara scrapyard and selling locally brewed alcohol.
While patrolling the area, the securitymen noticed the erratic movement of a vehicle, so they signaled for the driver to pull over. When they searched the vehicle, police found an undisclosed quantity of iron and local alcohol.
During interrogations, the driver and his two companions admitted they stole the iron from the Amghara scrapyard. They also confessed to trading in local alcohol.
A case was registered and the suspects were referred to the relevant security department for prosecution.
Lankan arrested: Police have taken into custody an unidentified Sri Lankan woman for selling runaway maids to prostitution dens in a suburb of Hassawi, reports Al-Wasat daily.
The daily quoting security sources said police acting on information raided the woman’s home and caught her with some runaway maids whom she had given shelter.
During interrogation she admitted to the charge. She has been referred to the concerned authorities.
Diplomat’s son detained: The Jahra police have arrested the son of an unidentified diplomat for trading in booze, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to reports the suspect was caught red-handed selling three bottles of booze to a police agent.
He has been referred to the General Department for Drug Control.
Crackdown nets scores: During a crackdown on vice and illegal residents, police are said to have arrested scores of people most of them wanted by law in connection with financial frauds, thefts and criminal offences, reports Al-Wasat daily.
The daily did not give more details.
Reveller hits patrol car: An unidentified reckless motorist has been arrested by police, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
According to reports the youth was celebrating Spain’s soccer World Cup victory and collided with a police patrol car.
MoH dept robbed: Police are looking for unidentified thieves who reportedly escaped with computers and electronic items from the Medical Engineering Department of the Ministry of Health, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
According to reports the theft was discovered by one of the laborers working at the department.
The same reports say the thieves entered the department through an air-conditioning vent.
Personnel from the Criminal Evidences Department have lifted fingerprints to identify the culprits.
Stamp thieves nabbed: Personnel from the General Department for Criminal Investigation have busted a gang of thieves who specialized in stealing revenue stamps from old shipping documents, recycling them and reselling them for half the face value, reports Al-Rai daily.
Without going into details the daily said the men were caught red-handed.
Juvenile thieves held: The Jahra police have arrested three bedoun juveniles for breaking into six houses in Qairawan, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to reports the thieves pried into the homes of people who are out of the country spending their summer holidays.
The thieves have been referred to the concerned authorities.
Home broken into: A 50-year-old Kuwaiti man has filed a complaint with the Rabiya Police Station accusing unidentified persons of breaking into the safe in his home and stealing KD 700 cash and jewelry worth KD 200, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
According to the complainant the theft took place when he was away with his family.
Personnel from the Criminal Evidences Department have lifted fingerprints.
Kuwaiti assaulted: A 24-year-old Kuwaiti was seriously injured following a street fight between three Arabs who allegedly escaped from the scene after beating the Kuwaiti, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Acting on information paramedics rushed to the spot and took the injured man to the Farwaniya Hospital for treatment.
Police are looking for the suspects.
Construction items stolen: The Ahmadi police have arrested two Asians for stealing construction material from buildings under construction. They were caught by a police patrol on routine duty in the suburb of Fahd Al-Ahmad, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
The thieves have been referred to the concerned authorities.
By: Munaif Nayef
KUWAIT CITY, July 14: Jahra securitymen have arrested three men for stealing iron from the Amghara scrapyard and selling locally brewed alcohol.
While patrolling the area, the securitymen noticed the erratic movement of a vehicle, so they signaled for the driver to pull over. When they searched the vehicle, police found an undisclosed quantity of iron and local alcohol.
During interrogations, the driver and his two companions admitted they stole the iron from the Amghara scrapyard. They also confessed to trading in local alcohol.
A case was registered and the suspects were referred to the relevant security department for prosecution.
Lankan arrested: Police have taken into custody an unidentified Sri Lankan woman for selling runaway maids to prostitution dens in a suburb of Hassawi, reports Al-Wasat daily.
The daily quoting security sources said police acting on information raided the woman’s home and caught her with some runaway maids whom she had given shelter.
During interrogation she admitted to the charge. She has been referred to the concerned authorities.
Diplomat’s son detained: The Jahra police have arrested the son of an unidentified diplomat for trading in booze, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to reports the suspect was caught red-handed selling three bottles of booze to a police agent.
He has been referred to the General Department for Drug Control.
Crackdown nets scores: During a crackdown on vice and illegal residents, police are said to have arrested scores of people most of them wanted by law in connection with financial frauds, thefts and criminal offences, reports Al-Wasat daily.
The daily did not give more details.
Reveller hits patrol car: An unidentified reckless motorist has been arrested by police, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
According to reports the youth was celebrating Spain’s soccer World Cup victory and collided with a police patrol car.
MoH dept robbed: Police are looking for unidentified thieves who reportedly escaped with computers and electronic items from the Medical Engineering Department of the Ministry of Health, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
According to reports the theft was discovered by one of the laborers working at the department.
The same reports say the thieves entered the department through an air-conditioning vent.
Personnel from the Criminal Evidences Department have lifted fingerprints to identify the culprits.
Stamp thieves nabbed: Personnel from the General Department for Criminal Investigation have busted a gang of thieves who specialized in stealing revenue stamps from old shipping documents, recycling them and reselling them for half the face value, reports Al-Rai daily.
Without going into details the daily said the men were caught red-handed.
Juvenile thieves held: The Jahra police have arrested three bedoun juveniles for breaking into six houses in Qairawan, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to reports the thieves pried into the homes of people who are out of the country spending their summer holidays.
The thieves have been referred to the concerned authorities.
Home broken into: A 50-year-old Kuwaiti man has filed a complaint with the Rabiya Police Station accusing unidentified persons of breaking into the safe in his home and stealing KD 700 cash and jewelry worth KD 200, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
According to the complainant the theft took place when he was away with his family.
Personnel from the Criminal Evidences Department have lifted fingerprints.
Kuwaiti assaulted: A 24-year-old Kuwaiti was seriously injured following a street fight between three Arabs who allegedly escaped from the scene after beating the Kuwaiti, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Acting on information paramedics rushed to the spot and took the injured man to the Farwaniya Hospital for treatment.
Police are looking for the suspects.
Construction items stolen: The Ahmadi police have arrested two Asians for stealing construction material from buildings under construction. They were caught by a police patrol on routine duty in the suburb of Fahd Al-Ahmad, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
The thieves have been referred to the concerned authorities.
By: Munaif Nayef
India releases jailed Lankan fishermen
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
Indian authorities have released 20 Sri Lankan fishermen who had been languishing in their jails for months after being arrested for illegal entry into Indian territorial waters and fishing in their coastlines.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said, the fishermen will be brought to Sri Lanka within the next few days. The 20 fishermen and the 12 boats will be be brought back home following repatriation orders to be announced by Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry in New Delhi, sources at Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry said.
Of the twelve boats, ten had reportedly been seized from the seas off the Vishakhapatnam coastline. Six of them were taken into custody on December 8, last year, the other four were seized on March 9 this year, according to Fisheries Ministry sources. Two vessels were taken into custody on June 15 off the coast of Thuththukody they said.
The fishermen from Gandhara, Devinuwara, Kudawella, Negombo and Chilaw areas. Sri Lanka was able to get 50 local fishermen released on an early occasion . Their vessels were seized by the Indian Coast Guards for violating Indian maritime boundaries and for illegal fishing.
Their release was consequent to successful negotiations, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Senaratna had with the Indian Government. Thanking the Indian Government for arranging the release of the fishermen and their boats , Senaratna said, he plans to go to India next month to discuss problems affecting Sri Lankan fishermen.
Daily news online
Indian authorities have released 20 Sri Lankan fishermen who had been languishing in their jails for months after being arrested for illegal entry into Indian territorial waters and fishing in their coastlines.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna said, the fishermen will be brought to Sri Lanka within the next few days. The 20 fishermen and the 12 boats will be be brought back home following repatriation orders to be announced by Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry in New Delhi, sources at Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry said.
Of the twelve boats, ten had reportedly been seized from the seas off the Vishakhapatnam coastline. Six of them were taken into custody on December 8, last year, the other four were seized on March 9 this year, according to Fisheries Ministry sources. Two vessels were taken into custody on June 15 off the coast of Thuththukody they said.
The fishermen from Gandhara, Devinuwara, Kudawella, Negombo and Chilaw areas. Sri Lanka was able to get 50 local fishermen released on an early occasion . Their vessels were seized by the Indian Coast Guards for violating Indian maritime boundaries and for illegal fishing.
Their release was consequent to successful negotiations, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Senaratna had with the Indian Government. Thanking the Indian Government for arranging the release of the fishermen and their boats , Senaratna said, he plans to go to India next month to discuss problems affecting Sri Lankan fishermen.
Daily news online
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Labor Ministry to focus on jobs
Aimed at strengthening its job creating role, the Labor Ministry on Monday changed its name to “Ministry of Employment and Labor.”
The change of the ministry‘s name came 29 years after the labor office was elevated to a government department.
“Creating more jobs, helping people who want to work and ensuring they get paid properly are the main purposes and values that we have to seek,” Minister Yim Tae-hee said during a relaunching ceremony held at the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi Province.
He pledged, in particular, to support senior citizens to continue social activities, saying “People’s lifecycle has been changed due to a falling birthrate and an aging society. Those who used to be said of being old should not be considered senior citizens any more.”
Employment and Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee talks with a job-seeker at a labor market in Seoul on Monday. Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald
Following the Tuesday meeting of Cabinet members, which will decide on job creation projects at 24 government offices, the Employment Ministry is expected to take a leadership role to inspect and oversee all new programs.
The ministry’s title shift came amid some pending issues deepening labor-management tensions.
As part of a revision to the labor union law in January, employers are banned from paying full-time union officials.
Even though the paid time-off system, which partly allows payment, was introduced from July 1 to protect smaller unions, labor groups have claimed that related rules are limiting the normal activities of labor unions.
Of the 1,320 workplaces that are monitored by the ministry, 362 had signed collective agreements as of Sunday. However, 21 were found to have violated the upper limit in the number of payable full-time unionists.
Meanwhile, the Minimum Wage Council decided on Saturday to increase next year’s minimum hourly wage to 4,320 won ($3.5).
Management representatives, especially smaller business owners, had demanded to freeze the current level at 4,110 won, citing the uncertainty in the recent economic turnaround. However, other representatives from labor and the government agreed on the 5.1 percent increase.
Management representatives claimed to freeze the current level, citing the uncertainty in the recent economic turnaround. But other Minimum Wage Council members from the government and labor agreed on the 5.1 percent increase.
The minister also acknowledged that the time-off system puts pressure on the self-support efforts of labor unions, while the increased minimum wage will become a burden to businesses.
“But those issues will be helpful to raise the value of labor. Through continuous discussions, I believe, advanced labor culture will be created here,” he said.
By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldm.com)
The change of the ministry‘s name came 29 years after the labor office was elevated to a government department.
“Creating more jobs, helping people who want to work and ensuring they get paid properly are the main purposes and values that we have to seek,” Minister Yim Tae-hee said during a relaunching ceremony held at the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi Province.
He pledged, in particular, to support senior citizens to continue social activities, saying “People’s lifecycle has been changed due to a falling birthrate and an aging society. Those who used to be said of being old should not be considered senior citizens any more.”
Employment and Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee talks with a job-seeker at a labor market in Seoul on Monday. Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald
Following the Tuesday meeting of Cabinet members, which will decide on job creation projects at 24 government offices, the Employment Ministry is expected to take a leadership role to inspect and oversee all new programs.
The ministry’s title shift came amid some pending issues deepening labor-management tensions.
As part of a revision to the labor union law in January, employers are banned from paying full-time union officials.
Even though the paid time-off system, which partly allows payment, was introduced from July 1 to protect smaller unions, labor groups have claimed that related rules are limiting the normal activities of labor unions.
Of the 1,320 workplaces that are monitored by the ministry, 362 had signed collective agreements as of Sunday. However, 21 were found to have violated the upper limit in the number of payable full-time unionists.
Meanwhile, the Minimum Wage Council decided on Saturday to increase next year’s minimum hourly wage to 4,320 won ($3.5).
Management representatives, especially smaller business owners, had demanded to freeze the current level at 4,110 won, citing the uncertainty in the recent economic turnaround. However, other representatives from labor and the government agreed on the 5.1 percent increase.
Management representatives claimed to freeze the current level, citing the uncertainty in the recent economic turnaround. But other Minimum Wage Council members from the government and labor agreed on the 5.1 percent increase.
The minister also acknowledged that the time-off system puts pressure on the self-support efforts of labor unions, while the increased minimum wage will become a burden to businesses.
“But those issues will be helpful to raise the value of labor. Through continuous discussions, I believe, advanced labor culture will be created here,” he said.
By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldm.com)
"No English, no job" for some Japanese office workers
TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters Life!) - In a bid to plug dwindling domestic consumption by tapping into overseas markets, some of Japan's big-name retailers are telling their employees to start speaking English -- or find another job.
As Japan's population shrinks, the country's retailers are increasingly looking to boost sales by expanding abroad and some firms are waking up to the necessity of being able to speak the global language of business in order to succeed overseas.
Rakuten, Japan's biggest online retailer, plans to make English the firm's official language, while Fast Retailing, operator of the Uniqlo apparel chain, wants to make English more common in its offices by 2012 and plans to test its employees for proficiency.
"It's about stopping being a Japanese company. We will become a world company," Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said last week at a news conference in Tokyo -- conducted almost entirely in English.
Employees at Rakuten, which hopes overseas sales will eventually account for 70 percent of all transactions made through its websites, will need to master English by 2012 to avoid facing the sack.
"No English, no job," Mikitani told the Asahi newspaper.
Other high-profile Japanese companies, including automakers Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor, have announced moves to make the use of English more common in the workplace.
Some experts say the switch to English is healthy but just one of the changes companies need to make to go global.
"What's interesting is that these companies really stand out as pioneers," Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University's Japan campus.
"They have a relatively new outlook. They realise that Japan is going to need to strike into foreign markets given the dormant state of its economy," he said.
Facing dwindling domestic demand, Fast Retailing plans to broaden its consumer base by expanding into Malaysia and Taiwan later this year.
To keep up with the company's internationalisation, employees at Uniqlo's head office will need to score at least 700 out of a maximum 990 on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), a measure of English proficiency.
Many Japanese employees may struggle to make the grade.
On average, Japanese candidates perform worse than those from almost any other Asian country in English aptitude tests, according to a report published by the Educational Testing Service, which administers more than 50 million exams including TOEIC each year.
Japanese tied with those from Tajikistan to finish joint 29th out of the 30 Asian countries surveyed in 2009.
But Fast Retailing has no plans as yet to provide extra training to help staff meet new English-language expectations.
"How (employees) choose to meet these expectations is a personal choice," Daisuke Hase, a spokesman for Fast Retailing, told Reuters, speaking in English.
Temple University's Kingston said, however, that the trend towards using English in office life was hardly likely to sweep the nation: "Will English become Japan's business lingua franca? I doubt it."
In fact, Yoichi Wada, president of videogame creator Square Enix, tweeted an alternative suggestion this week.
"Rather than make English the office language, let's use 'C'," he wrote -- a reference not to Chinese, but to a computer programming language.
As Japan's population shrinks, the country's retailers are increasingly looking to boost sales by expanding abroad and some firms are waking up to the necessity of being able to speak the global language of business in order to succeed overseas.
Rakuten, Japan's biggest online retailer, plans to make English the firm's official language, while Fast Retailing, operator of the Uniqlo apparel chain, wants to make English more common in its offices by 2012 and plans to test its employees for proficiency.
"It's about stopping being a Japanese company. We will become a world company," Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said last week at a news conference in Tokyo -- conducted almost entirely in English.
Employees at Rakuten, which hopes overseas sales will eventually account for 70 percent of all transactions made through its websites, will need to master English by 2012 to avoid facing the sack.
"No English, no job," Mikitani told the Asahi newspaper.
Other high-profile Japanese companies, including automakers Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor, have announced moves to make the use of English more common in the workplace.
Some experts say the switch to English is healthy but just one of the changes companies need to make to go global.
"What's interesting is that these companies really stand out as pioneers," Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University's Japan campus.
"They have a relatively new outlook. They realise that Japan is going to need to strike into foreign markets given the dormant state of its economy," he said.
Facing dwindling domestic demand, Fast Retailing plans to broaden its consumer base by expanding into Malaysia and Taiwan later this year.
To keep up with the company's internationalisation, employees at Uniqlo's head office will need to score at least 700 out of a maximum 990 on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), a measure of English proficiency.
Many Japanese employees may struggle to make the grade.
On average, Japanese candidates perform worse than those from almost any other Asian country in English aptitude tests, according to a report published by the Educational Testing Service, which administers more than 50 million exams including TOEIC each year.
Japanese tied with those from Tajikistan to finish joint 29th out of the 30 Asian countries surveyed in 2009.
But Fast Retailing has no plans as yet to provide extra training to help staff meet new English-language expectations.
"How (employees) choose to meet these expectations is a personal choice," Daisuke Hase, a spokesman for Fast Retailing, told Reuters, speaking in English.
Temple University's Kingston said, however, that the trend towards using English in office life was hardly likely to sweep the nation: "Will English become Japan's business lingua franca? I doubt it."
In fact, Yoichi Wada, president of videogame creator Square Enix, tweeted an alternative suggestion this week.
"Rather than make English the office language, let's use 'C'," he wrote -- a reference not to Chinese, but to a computer programming language.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Dubai grows as falling rents attract migrants
Ramola Talwar Bada
Source: Dubai Statistics Centre
DUBAI // The population of Dubai rose 7.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year as lower rents and living costs drew migrants from neighbouring emirates to the city.
The emirate’s total population rose to 1,803,000 from 1,676,000 in the same period of last year, figures released yesterday by the Dubai Statistics Centre show.
Dubai’s transient population, or those commuting to the emirate for work, rose by more than 1 million people to 2.87 million, the statistics centre said.
Analysts believe lower rents and the availability of accommodation has fuelled the growth. House prices and rents have been cut in half since peaking in late 2008.
Dubai property prices may fall by a further 15 per cent, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report last month. “Rents are cheaper and people are upgrading their lifestyle,” said Mishaal al Gergawi, an Emirati social commentator.
“This is a conservative figure. It could be much more.”
The shifting demographics were demonstrated in the numbers moving from Ajman to Sharjah, and in those moving from Sharjah to Deira. Deira resident were then moving to Bur Dubai and later settling on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, Mr al Gergawi said.
The new data showed the so-called “active population” was boosted by labourers, white-collar workers and visitors coming to the emirate seeking work. It was unclear whether labourers or white-collar workers made up the biggest chunk of the 1 million rise in the transient population.
The National - Abudabi
Source: Dubai Statistics Centre
DUBAI // The population of Dubai rose 7.5 per cent in the first quarter of the year as lower rents and living costs drew migrants from neighbouring emirates to the city.
The emirate’s total population rose to 1,803,000 from 1,676,000 in the same period of last year, figures released yesterday by the Dubai Statistics Centre show.
Dubai’s transient population, or those commuting to the emirate for work, rose by more than 1 million people to 2.87 million, the statistics centre said.
Analysts believe lower rents and the availability of accommodation has fuelled the growth. House prices and rents have been cut in half since peaking in late 2008.
Dubai property prices may fall by a further 15 per cent, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report last month. “Rents are cheaper and people are upgrading their lifestyle,” said Mishaal al Gergawi, an Emirati social commentator.
“This is a conservative figure. It could be much more.”
The shifting demographics were demonstrated in the numbers moving from Ajman to Sharjah, and in those moving from Sharjah to Deira. Deira resident were then moving to Bur Dubai and later settling on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, Mr al Gergawi said.
The new data showed the so-called “active population” was boosted by labourers, white-collar workers and visitors coming to the emirate seeking work. It was unclear whether labourers or white-collar workers made up the biggest chunk of the 1 million rise in the transient population.
The National - Abudabi
Labour ministers’ meet of Asian nations in Dhaka
BSS, Dhaka
Labour ministers of 11 Asian manpower exporting countries will meet here in October this year under Colombo Process to discuss various obstacles on overseas labour employment and share the best practices in improving the condition of migrant workers.
The Colombo process was conceived as a response to calls from 11 Asian migrant labour sending countries to discuss ways to protect migrant workers from exploitation and ensure their rights.
The member states of the Colombo process are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Bangladesh took over the chairmanship of the Colommbo Process from Indonesia in December 2004. The first consultation meeting was held in Sri Lankan capital Colombo in 2003, which was followed by second in Philippines capital Manila and third in Indonesian Bali.
"We are giving prime importance to the meeting as for the first time such a high level regional consultative process meeting on labour migration is being held in Bangladesh," Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain told at a briefing after holding an inter- ministerial preparatory meeting at the secretariat here.
Apart from the member states, representatives from labour recipient countries Bahrain, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Libya will also attend the ministerial meeting as observers, he said.
The Minister said the main focus of this year's meeting would be on ensuring social rights of migrant workers in line with the theme 'Migration with Dignity'.
During the ministerial meeting, Engineer Mosharraf said, the member countries will try to identify the major problems in sending manpower as well as ensuring their rights in the foreign land.
"We will also try to reach a consensus for taking a unified move to the labour exporting market with mutual understanding so that everyone's interests would be secured and our labours could live with dignity abroad," he said.
Side by side, we will also share our opinions with the observer countries to understand what kind of compliances they expects in receiving labours from outsides, he said.
The minister also said Bangladesh would consult with other countries how it can maintain the minimum migration cost in the country.
At the end of the ministerial meeting a Dhaka Declaration would be adopted by the member stats, Expatriate Welfare Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan said.
The ministerial meeting will be held from 20 to 21 October while a meeting of senior officials of the members countries will be held on October 19 as per the final preparation for the ministerial meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the ministerial meeting, he said.
International Organization for Migration (IOM), who acts as a secretariat for the Colombo Process will provide support to the government for holding the meeting.
Labour ministers of 11 Asian manpower exporting countries will meet here in October this year under Colombo Process to discuss various obstacles on overseas labour employment and share the best practices in improving the condition of migrant workers.
The Colombo process was conceived as a response to calls from 11 Asian migrant labour sending countries to discuss ways to protect migrant workers from exploitation and ensure their rights.
The member states of the Colombo process are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Bangladesh took over the chairmanship of the Colommbo Process from Indonesia in December 2004. The first consultation meeting was held in Sri Lankan capital Colombo in 2003, which was followed by second in Philippines capital Manila and third in Indonesian Bali.
"We are giving prime importance to the meeting as for the first time such a high level regional consultative process meeting on labour migration is being held in Bangladesh," Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain told at a briefing after holding an inter- ministerial preparatory meeting at the secretariat here.
Apart from the member states, representatives from labour recipient countries Bahrain, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Libya will also attend the ministerial meeting as observers, he said.
The Minister said the main focus of this year's meeting would be on ensuring social rights of migrant workers in line with the theme 'Migration with Dignity'.
During the ministerial meeting, Engineer Mosharraf said, the member countries will try to identify the major problems in sending manpower as well as ensuring their rights in the foreign land.
"We will also try to reach a consensus for taking a unified move to the labour exporting market with mutual understanding so that everyone's interests would be secured and our labours could live with dignity abroad," he said.
Side by side, we will also share our opinions with the observer countries to understand what kind of compliances they expects in receiving labours from outsides, he said.
The minister also said Bangladesh would consult with other countries how it can maintain the minimum migration cost in the country.
At the end of the ministerial meeting a Dhaka Declaration would be adopted by the member stats, Expatriate Welfare Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan said.
The ministerial meeting will be held from 20 to 21 October while a meeting of senior officials of the members countries will be held on October 19 as per the final preparation for the ministerial meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the ministerial meeting, he said.
International Organization for Migration (IOM), who acts as a secretariat for the Colombo Process will provide support to the government for holding the meeting.
Foreigner dupes thousands promising Italian jobs
Chaminda PERERA
A foreigner, who duped thousands of youth by promising jobs in Italy was arrested by the Colombo Fraud Division yesterday.
According to a senior Police officer of the Colombo Fraud Division, this man had promised white collar jobs in Italy and collected millions of rupees from Sri Lankan job seekers.
The man was living in a luxury apartment in Colombo.
Police however said that the man has not settled the rent of his apartment.
The officer said they had received thousands of complaints against this man who was overstaying his visa.
A foreigner, who duped thousands of youth by promising jobs in Italy was arrested by the Colombo Fraud Division yesterday.
According to a senior Police officer of the Colombo Fraud Division, this man had promised white collar jobs in Italy and collected millions of rupees from Sri Lankan job seekers.
The man was living in a luxury apartment in Colombo.
Police however said that the man has not settled the rent of his apartment.
The officer said they had received thousands of complaints against this man who was overstaying his visa.
Monday, July 5, 2010
‘No force in modern life is as omnipresent yet overlooked’: New York Times article on global migration
General Workers
The New York Times ran this piece on on global migration on Monday which may be of interest to M-R.org readers, ‘Global Migration: A World Ever More on the Move’.
Migration is perhaps the most ‘overlooked’ phenomenon of modern times, argues Jason DeParle. Nevertheless, stories involving migrants, directly or indirectly, keep on cropping up in the international media, such as reports from earlier this year that a Thai farmworker in Israel was killed by a Hamas rocket. The article is mainly about migration in the US and its impact on political debates, but DeParle makes some interesting points that are applicable to the situation in the Middle East, such as this:
Theorists sometimes call the movement of people the third wave of globalization, after the movement of goods (trade) and the movement of money (finance) that began in the previous century. But trade and finance follow global norms and are governed by global institutions: the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund. There is no parallel group with “migration” in its name. The most personal and perilous form of movement is the most unregulated. States make (and often ignore) their own rules, deciding who can come, how long they stay, and what rights they enjoy.
This is a serious point and certainly applies to migrant workers in the Middle East, where governments seem to make up the rules as they go along when it comes to guest workers. In this context, are existing multilaterals and international legal instruments enough to protect the rights of vulnerable economic migrants?
A few weeks ago we blogged about how Migrant Forum Asia had complained that existing labour conventions were not sufficient to protect female domestic workers. Do these forgotten millions deserve more attention? Undoubtedly yes.
Migration has been happening for centuries, but several factors make movement of people in this generation different from any other, according to the article:
First is migration’s global reach. The movements of the 19th century were mostly trans-Atlantic. Now, Nepalis staff Korean factories and Mongolians do scut work in Prague. Persian Gulf economies would collapse without armies of guest workers. Even within the United States, immigrants are spread across dozens of “new gateways” unaccustomed to them, from Orlando to Salt Lake City.
A second distinguishing trait is the money involved, which not only sustains the families left behind but props up national economies. Migrants sent home $317 billion last year — three times the world’s total foreign aid. In at least seven countries, remittances account for more than a quarter of the gross domestic product.
A third factor that increases migration’s impact is its feminization: Nearly half of the world’s migrants are now women, and many have left children behind. Their emergence as breadwinners is altering family dynamics across the developing world. Migration empowers some, but imperils others, with sex trafficking now a global concern.
Global migrants are more numerous than ever before. The stakes are high, and the risks numerous for the millions of workers on the move around the world. But more often than not – especially in the Middle East – migrant workers stay out of sight and out of mind
The New York Times ran this piece on on global migration on Monday which may be of interest to M-R.org readers, ‘Global Migration: A World Ever More on the Move’.
Migration is perhaps the most ‘overlooked’ phenomenon of modern times, argues Jason DeParle. Nevertheless, stories involving migrants, directly or indirectly, keep on cropping up in the international media, such as reports from earlier this year that a Thai farmworker in Israel was killed by a Hamas rocket. The article is mainly about migration in the US and its impact on political debates, but DeParle makes some interesting points that are applicable to the situation in the Middle East, such as this:
Theorists sometimes call the movement of people the third wave of globalization, after the movement of goods (trade) and the movement of money (finance) that began in the previous century. But trade and finance follow global norms and are governed by global institutions: the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund. There is no parallel group with “migration” in its name. The most personal and perilous form of movement is the most unregulated. States make (and often ignore) their own rules, deciding who can come, how long they stay, and what rights they enjoy.
This is a serious point and certainly applies to migrant workers in the Middle East, where governments seem to make up the rules as they go along when it comes to guest workers. In this context, are existing multilaterals and international legal instruments enough to protect the rights of vulnerable economic migrants?
A few weeks ago we blogged about how Migrant Forum Asia had complained that existing labour conventions were not sufficient to protect female domestic workers. Do these forgotten millions deserve more attention? Undoubtedly yes.
Migration has been happening for centuries, but several factors make movement of people in this generation different from any other, according to the article:
First is migration’s global reach. The movements of the 19th century were mostly trans-Atlantic. Now, Nepalis staff Korean factories and Mongolians do scut work in Prague. Persian Gulf economies would collapse without armies of guest workers. Even within the United States, immigrants are spread across dozens of “new gateways” unaccustomed to them, from Orlando to Salt Lake City.
A second distinguishing trait is the money involved, which not only sustains the families left behind but props up national economies. Migrants sent home $317 billion last year — three times the world’s total foreign aid. In at least seven countries, remittances account for more than a quarter of the gross domestic product.
A third factor that increases migration’s impact is its feminization: Nearly half of the world’s migrants are now women, and many have left children behind. Their emergence as breadwinners is altering family dynamics across the developing world. Migration empowers some, but imperils others, with sex trafficking now a global concern.
Global migrants are more numerous than ever before. The stakes are high, and the risks numerous for the millions of workers on the move around the world. But more often than not – especially in the Middle East – migrant workers stay out of sight and out of mind
Married immigrants reunited with parents
40 Cambodian, Indonesian and Malaysian women who married into Korean families were reunited with their parents June 23 for the first time since their marriage.
The parents came to Korea at the invitation of Korea Saemaul Undong Center sponsored by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. They stayed in Korea for seven days.
A total of 80 parents reunited with 25 Cambodian, 10 Indonesian and five Malaysian wives. They were also greeted by their Korean in-laws.
They toured the 63 Building, Gyeongbok Palace, Cheonggye Stream, the National Museum of Korea, Korea Folk Village, Saemaul Museum on the precincts of Saemaul Undong Central Training Institute, the compound of the presidential office Chong Wa Dae, and other sites.
The center threw an official reception on June 24. The migrant wives met with Korean housewives who are members of the center to form cultural support links.
The parents visited their son-in-laws and spent for four days before flying home.
This is the third time the center has invited the parents of migrant women who married Koreans and live in Korea. In June, last year, it invited parents of Vietnamese, Thai and Philippine daughters. Parents of Mongolian, Uzbek and Kazakh wives living in Korea came here for family reunion in December.
In December, 2007, the ministry had initially invited parents of migrant women residing in Korea after marrying Koreans.
(swchun@heraldm.com)
The parents came to Korea at the invitation of Korea Saemaul Undong Center sponsored by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. They stayed in Korea for seven days.
A total of 80 parents reunited with 25 Cambodian, 10 Indonesian and five Malaysian wives. They were also greeted by their Korean in-laws.
They toured the 63 Building, Gyeongbok Palace, Cheonggye Stream, the National Museum of Korea, Korea Folk Village, Saemaul Museum on the precincts of Saemaul Undong Central Training Institute, the compound of the presidential office Chong Wa Dae, and other sites.
The center threw an official reception on June 24. The migrant wives met with Korean housewives who are members of the center to form cultural support links.
The parents visited their son-in-laws and spent for four days before flying home.
This is the third time the center has invited the parents of migrant women who married Koreans and live in Korea. In June, last year, it invited parents of Vietnamese, Thai and Philippine daughters. Parents of Mongolian, Uzbek and Kazakh wives living in Korea came here for family reunion in December.
In December, 2007, the ministry had initially invited parents of migrant women residing in Korea after marrying Koreans.
(swchun@heraldm.com)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Remittances top forex earnings
Rasika Somarathna
*Expatriate workers sent US $ 3.3 b in 2009
*2,300 new agreements for South Korean jobs
*Rise in Lankans seeking foreign jobs
Remittances from Sri Lankan expatriate workers are expected to exceed US $ 4 billion this year making them the country’s number one foreign exchange earner. Authorities said if the current trends are to go by where the remittances received amounted to US $ 890 million during the first quarter of 2010 (growth of 14 per cent from last year) the target of US $ 04 billion at the year end, would be easily surpassed.
According to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chief (SLBFE) Kingsley Ranawaka the number of Sri Lankans leaving abroad for employment has seen a significant increase since last year and with new vistas in the horizon the numbers could go higher before the year end.
During the first quarter of 2010, 67,136 had migrated for jobs and during the same period in 2009 only 54,990 had left for employment.
In addition to the numbers, the wage increases to certain categories of workers in accordance with a Government request, emphasis on skilled categories, better training, awareness on improved financial management, enhanced protocol on job agreements\salaries are also seen as reasons behind the increase in remittances.
Less dependency on traditional Middle Eastern markets and the growth in emerging and more lucrative destinations such as South Korea has had its say in increasing revenue.
Ranawaka said that 2,300 new agreements had been signed for employment opportunities in South Korea and more were to follow during the course of the year.
Sri Lankan expatriate workers sent home US $ 3.3 billion in 2009 and the remittances in 2008 was US $ 2.9 billion.
There are more than 1.8 million Sri Lankan expatriate workers at present.
International labour migration from Sri Lanka has grown remarkably over the last decades, with numbers increasing more than tenfold, according to the Central Bank, Annual Report.
*Expatriate workers sent US $ 3.3 b in 2009
*2,300 new agreements for South Korean jobs
*Rise in Lankans seeking foreign jobs
Remittances from Sri Lankan expatriate workers are expected to exceed US $ 4 billion this year making them the country’s number one foreign exchange earner. Authorities said if the current trends are to go by where the remittances received amounted to US $ 890 million during the first quarter of 2010 (growth of 14 per cent from last year) the target of US $ 04 billion at the year end, would be easily surpassed.
According to Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Chief (SLBFE) Kingsley Ranawaka the number of Sri Lankans leaving abroad for employment has seen a significant increase since last year and with new vistas in the horizon the numbers could go higher before the year end.
During the first quarter of 2010, 67,136 had migrated for jobs and during the same period in 2009 only 54,990 had left for employment.
In addition to the numbers, the wage increases to certain categories of workers in accordance with a Government request, emphasis on skilled categories, better training, awareness on improved financial management, enhanced protocol on job agreements\salaries are also seen as reasons behind the increase in remittances.
Less dependency on traditional Middle Eastern markets and the growth in emerging and more lucrative destinations such as South Korea has had its say in increasing revenue.
Ranawaka said that 2,300 new agreements had been signed for employment opportunities in South Korea and more were to follow during the course of the year.
Sri Lankan expatriate workers sent home US $ 3.3 billion in 2009 and the remittances in 2008 was US $ 2.9 billion.
There are more than 1.8 million Sri Lankan expatriate workers at present.
International labour migration from Sri Lanka has grown remarkably over the last decades, with numbers increasing more than tenfold, according to the Central Bank, Annual Report.
Arrest brain drain
Rasika Somarathna
Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne Saturday said Sri Lanka is facing a huge brain drain of highly skilled professionals to well paid jobs in other country’s and emphasised the need to arrest the problem.
He said such highly skilled/educated professionals migration was an impediment to the country’s development drive.
While noting that the migration of such professionals for better salaries/perks as unfortunate, the Premier added that the Government efforts to encourage others to return too had not met with desired results.
However, the Premier pointed out that it was the duty of all Sri Lankan’s to make their talents/resources available to their motherland when needed, specially at a time the Government was making plans to make it one of the most prominent nations of the world.
He made these observations addressing a gathering at the ‘Mahapola’ Scholarship awarding ceremony held at the Prime Ministers Office.
Premier Jayaratne stressed that the Government was investing enormous amounts of money to supplement the free education and added that as beneficiaries of the system all Sri Lankans had a duty towards their motherland to offer services when needed. Commenting on the formation of Private Universities, the Premier noted that 98 percent of eligible students for higher education could benefit from the move as in Sri Lanka only two percent of such students get opportunity to enter a university.
According to sources this year 11,590 students are eligible for ‘Mahapola’ scholarship scheme. A recipient is provided with Rs. 2,500 monthly financial assistance for educational purposes. Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando along with several other senior Government officials too were present.
Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne Saturday said Sri Lanka is facing a huge brain drain of highly skilled professionals to well paid jobs in other country’s and emphasised the need to arrest the problem.
He said such highly skilled/educated professionals migration was an impediment to the country’s development drive.
While noting that the migration of such professionals for better salaries/perks as unfortunate, the Premier added that the Government efforts to encourage others to return too had not met with desired results.
However, the Premier pointed out that it was the duty of all Sri Lankan’s to make their talents/resources available to their motherland when needed, specially at a time the Government was making plans to make it one of the most prominent nations of the world.
He made these observations addressing a gathering at the ‘Mahapola’ Scholarship awarding ceremony held at the Prime Ministers Office.
Premier Jayaratne stressed that the Government was investing enormous amounts of money to supplement the free education and added that as beneficiaries of the system all Sri Lankans had a duty towards their motherland to offer services when needed. Commenting on the formation of Private Universities, the Premier noted that 98 percent of eligible students for higher education could benefit from the move as in Sri Lanka only two percent of such students get opportunity to enter a university.
According to sources this year 11,590 students are eligible for ‘Mahapola’ scholarship scheme. A recipient is provided with Rs. 2,500 monthly financial assistance for educational purposes. Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando along with several other senior Government officials too were present.
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