Detention by SLBFE ! Do they have Right to Arrest People?

By; G.S.L.J.S. Dias –A.A.L

My own experience can be a good beginning for this column. I used to work for an INGO in an Asian country and for many years I was not called to pay the Migrants levy at the Airport, in many occasions i was in good attire and therefore I was free to travel without checked by the SLBFE officials. One day in 2006 when I traveled with my mother they stopped me and asked my Levy and stamp by SLBFE. It went to nearly 30 minutes with arguments an counter arguments with SLBFE as they don’t have clear idea on under what category I can be charged. As I work for INGO, they didn’t had any clue on my category further there was no gazette notification displayed at the counters in this regard , neither they had it in their files. Since my feeble mother is waiting for me at the lobby I decided to pay basic amount and finally I agreed to pay 3500/= which is the lowest levy available and I attached a protest note to the authorities. I have been able to argue, question and challenge as I am a Lawyer, but a poor persons comes to Colombo for the first time may surrender them selves as they think this is the law of the country.

I made an official complain to the Airport authority seeking their explanation on what grounds they have allowed outside parties to maintain legal rights that only permitted to Civil Aviation Authority. The reply from the airport aviation authority informed me that the Airport Aviation Authority, authorized the presence of SLBFE at the airport but silent on the unlawful arrest and detentions. Civil Aviation Authority had no legal rights to delegate the Right of Detention or arrest to unlawful parties in this case SLBFE within the Airport. It’s not mentioned in the Civil Aviation laws neither SLBFE act. Specially to conduct it as general daily routine. We Sri Lankans believe and adhered only to the Rule of Law but not to any other powers.

Since then I used to question the presence of SLBFE officials at the airport and inquire about their legality of stop people ,question and prevent them moving. According to the Sri Lankan Law except for those who permitted to maintained law and order others cannot take any one in to custody unless an irreparable destruction happening. Prevention of movement at the Airport is a clear obstruction of freedom of movement and an unlawful arrest as described in the Sri Lankan Law. Therefore what’s happening at the Airport is an unlawful arrest and obstructing the freedom of movement. Other than Law enforcing Authorities Immigration is authorized to prevent Persons leaving the country. Even though its also questionable at least its legal. These days there are various Law enforcing officers are waiting at the Airport to prevent suspected persons leaving country. They also have authority to do so even though its also questionable.

Freedom of movement is guaranteed as a fundamental Right by the Sri Lankan Constitution. Therefore SLBFE act is a violation of Sri Lankan Constitution as well as continue to do so without a proper authority is an unlawful act. I have received many complains form various parties that many migrant workers have been stopped at the Airport by the officials of the SLBFE and send them back as some of these people doesn’t have money to pay the levy. Some people were asked to pay even more than Rs.10,000 and some poor villages pawned their jewelries for unreasonable amounts to pay this levy. An official working inside the airport told me that one of his relations faced the same situations and he has witnessed many such unfortunate situations. According to the act all the persons are legally bound to pay the levy. But there is no legal authority to these unauthorized people (SLBFE Staff)to stop any one at the airport or detain or obstruct movement of people which is guaranteed by the constitution. There isn’t any clause that permitted officers or a person of SLBFE is permitted to obstruct people at the Air port or arrest or detain them.
I request all those who travel through Colombo Airport to go through the SLBFE counter and ask their legality and question their presence at every point and ask them to show their authorization documents. As Legitimate citizens of this country we can question and we have that Right.

I was not prevented by SLBFE for many years but suddenly checked as I was not in rich attire on the said day. So the rational for SLBFE is they obstruct only he poor and they don’t stop any good looking people. They don’t have systems that insist all Sri Lankans departure from Sri Lanka is compulsory to go through their check point at the Airport. I have seen many well dressed migrant workers are leavening the country with out any levy and without checked by SLBFE at the Airport. The unequal and discriminatory nature of checking must come to a holt and SLBFE needs to get the sanctions from the Sri Lankan Legislative for such action where Civil society can challenge before they enact, if the try to bring discriminatory laws.

By using this kind of screening they do violate another FR which is the Right to equal treatment. What SLBFE can argue will be they are not a state body but a company. My argument is then we can still challenge them on the basis that they have no authority to operate at the airport and unless state allowed them to operate, then the relevant ministry is violating the above Rights and by that they are violating our Rights.

Non benefiting Payment

Under the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985, it is a legal requirement for all workers leaving Sri Lanka for overseas employment to be registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) prior to departure. The annual turn over of SLBFE will be Over 800 Million from the registered Migrant workers if we take 200,000 Departures per year and levy at a minimum rate of 4000. The numbers are higher than that and fees are also higher. The SLBFE other earnings such as License fees, fines etc will bring much higher additional revenue generation. SLBFE is a profit making company manage by the government and mainly maintained by the poor Migrant workers from their hard earn money. It’s their money as each migrant worker registered at the SLBFE pays levy between 3500- 12,000 or more based on their country and job.

Officially over 1.7 million people are working overseas at present. 80% of these placement have been to the middle -east mainly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. Out of these Saudi Arabia accounted for 33% of the market. Almost 95% of labour to Saudi Arabia has been as House-maids. There can be 250,000 others working as undocumented workers and those who unregistered at the SLBFE including direct hiring and various others.
In 2007 Rs. 276,814 Million received as foreign remittances by private parties against 35.75% of the total exports this is the second largest revenue generator in the Sri Lankan export sector. The government and their various other actors are highly benefiting by this remittances. Almost all banks involved in remittance business earns substantial amount of their income through the foreign remittance by the migrant workers. With all "Mahinda Chinthana" Says: that “Open new avenues for skilled labour in fields such as nursing, shipping, computer science , etc., to secure foreign employment. An English medium nursing college will be established, which is aimed at fulfilling the growing demand for nurses in European countries. Welfare projects will be introduced ay village level for the benefit of the children of those who are employed abroad. Special arrangements will be made to protect the female expatriate workers. Special housing loan schemes will be arranged through state and private banks, with a 30% contribution being made by the Government through a suitable mechanism.
A pension Scheme will be introduced for those who are employed abroad.
The duty free allowance presently available for returnees from employment abroad will be increased to US$ 5,000. Laws will be amended to allow the use of this facility during the first 6 months from date of returning to Sri Lanka.”
SLBFE web site says that the Bureau offer various services and benefits to the workers even though its questionable as the recipient are bare minimum and deaths and other disabilities comes as below;
Natural Deaths 2006- 100 male 72 female total 172 , 2007 – 112 male 87 female total 199
Accidental deaths 2006- 59 male 18 female total 77, 2007 – 48 male 18 female total 66
Suicide deaths 2006- 3 male 4 female total 7, 2007 – 3 male 6 female total 9
Static’s indicate that annually there can be maximum of 100 deaths comes under the compensation SLBFE schemes and these compensation will not exceed 30 million per year and disabilities compensations will be less than the above amount. What ever way the total welfare that migrants receive will be less than 100 million that includes grade 5 scholarships, and other offers. Most of the other benefits offered by the SLBFE are loans which they agreed with state banks. Even the death compensation are paid by the Sri Lanka insurance company which lamented that the amount paid by the SLBFE is not sufficient and they need to increase the amount. This reveals that even the death compensation are on an insurance scheme where SLBFE doesn’t directly pay the compensation.
The question comes then , where does the money that poor migrant workers pay will be utilize? This column will be email to the SLBFE and more than 20 of its officers and the ministry as well as to the minister. They should come out with the utilization details if it’s positive than what I propose. Also this is posted to many other Rights Organizations and international bodies for their information.
My argument is that

1) Firstly the levy doesn’t serve to the Sri Lankan migrant community and it’s an eye wash and money grab.
2) Secondly the levy shouldn’t use as a point to prevent people leave the country but can be taken as voluntary or non compulsory manner.
3) If levy is compulsory as it says in the act then the benefits must be more substantial and transparence and accountability need to be increase.
4) There is a basic principle in the law says that no one can become rich through other people money. SLBFE is a company and they have no rights become rich but to serve.
5) The other question is that under which jurisdiction that air port authority authorized private company (SLBFE) to run a detention facilities and jurisdiction of arrest passengers comes to airport.

This is a serious situation that Migrant Rights Organizations, Agencies, Lawyers and International institutions must deal with the Sri Lankan Government which is a signatory for the International Covenant for Migrant Workers as well as bound by Fundamental Rights of the Constitution.

Remittances, Side Businesses & Failure of sate on sustaining and protecting Migrant Workers

By G.S.L.J.S. Dias –A.A.L




Introduction



Migrant workers are the second largest export commodity of Sri Lanka and even though this industry deals with humans. In spite of the market stake Migrant workers are neglected and poorly treated by the state and state authorities as well as various other service providers and actors. In every possible opportunity the migrant related actors are exploiting the money earn by the Migrant workers.



Often we can see these state and non state actors behaves like a money grabbers rather services providers. There are two categories of money grabbers even though some are involved with voluntary decision of Migrant workers. But there is a clear group of Money grabbers that can be prevent by a Government intervention.



The first export sector of Sri Lanka is the garment industry, which is not completely a Sri Lankan production, where we do only the processing in Sri Lanka and value added services. Compare to Tea industry, where Sri Lanka get total benefit. Labour exports bringing full benefits to the country, therefore from the migrant’s perspective the industry owe more facilities and infrastructure. The unfortunate tragedy is that migrant workers with that high prominence in the remittance sector won’t get incentives or protection for their contribution but only undignified treatments.



The area where severe exploitations are taking place can be regularized and redress through government interventions, and some of those are; Remittance transfer issues, Leisure facilities , Errant Recruitment Agencies , Taxes and Custom Duties , Welfare in Host countries , Protection, Health and investments. The voluntary protection programmes can be introduced in to Media, Communication and, Religious observances where government has no direct involvement.



I prefer to share life stories as its easy to understand. A friend of mine paid Rs.150,000/= in 2005 to go to Malaysia to a leading and well known recruitment agency. After three months of payment they all were sent back after they were stranded in Malaysian Airport for three days. The agency promised the money back and paid 70,000 and kept balance 80,000 with a promise for a job in Saudi Arabia ( KSA). My friend got the money as he was being able to threat the agency and I intervened as Lawyer. After 6 to 8 months he was offered a job in KSA as driver , all these days my friend was jobless and waiting for new job and spend Rs.70,000/= for his daily living expenses. In KSA his salary was 700 Saudi Riyals (SR) and 300 living allowance out of that 100 SR was deducted for Akama (kind of Saudi Job Permit) and some more for other licenses. Their salaries were paid two months later. In Sri Lankan currency every thing he got comes to about 25,000/= per month and he being able to send around 12000-15,000 to the family.



My friend had spend nearly 200,000 before he get this job but only being able to send back home around 250,000 for the 24 months, By few week he felt that he is not in sound financial position and need some thing to earn and only way out is going back to middle east. He moved to another Arabic country for better salary through a relative. This time his life may be better than the past but I know for sure that he lost all the faith on the state system and every body involved in the field. My friend is a fortunate one compare to some cases I received from Migrant workers. Is this only his fault? Or is there some others are also involved side businesses among Migrant workers?



A survey done by the Migrant Rights organizations in Hong Kong among the Hong Kong Domestic workers brought interesting findings. According to said survey the majority of Pilipino Domestic Workers spends nearly 55 % of their income inside Hong Kong and only send 45% back to their homes. These figures are varied to other nationalities such as nearly 45 % for Indonesians and 40% for Sri Lankans. Stories are more pathetic in Middle East as some of the Domestic workers wont get any salary at all but similar in countries like Singapore and Israel. There are various businesses and actors to grab the earnings of these migrants workers through various gimmicks and attractions. These migrant workers knowingly and unknowingly become victims of these fake persons.



The first tragedy comes when a Migrant worker leaves the country as she or he will loose his or her eligibility for Samurdhi (the Government Poor relief). Government removes them from the list of the welfare recipients as they are no more below the poverty line. Actually they are worst than before until the end of first year as many of them continue to pay the debts they obtain to pay the job money. In Indonesian, case most of the domestic workers working in their first 7 months to pay their agency fees. Usually most of the Domestic workers in Middle East receive around 150-200 USD even though Government insist on 250US$. This small salary will not be enough to maintain a family and pay the debts as well as their dream of sustenance. It will take 3 to 4 years for them to come to a break even position. By the time many of them undergo social issues and family issues due to migration and compelled to continue. But this endless migration will benefit the state and other money grabbers as until Migration is existing the taxes and other incomes are ensured.



Gender Aspect



From this point my emphasis is on how these migrant workers manage their salaries and how various other actors are trying to grab money from them. Most of the Women Newspaper companies targets Factory Girls & Migrant workers as their prime readers. When a news paper comes to a host country it will cost around Rs 200 /= a paper there are more than 20 such Women News papers discuss every thing under the sun including many myths. These migrant workers spend on these news papers as they are human and need some kind of leisure for them( this is valid for those who are allowed to go out but for those who are not permitted has to live in open prisons until they terminated). Knowing the social stigma that these workers are going through and their distance relationships with their loved once bogus sooth Sayers, shamans and astrologers advertise various services for money in this news papers. These cunning culprits some how exploit the psychosocial issues of the Migrant workers in to a money spin for them. These bogus wild businesses even advertise their Fax numbers to receive grievances of Migrant workers and answers by currier services.



This will follow CD &DVD film sellers, and food Items sellers. Many Migrant workers spend money on food Items as they cannot continue with food styles of the host countries for a longer period.



Religions too



It’s also a practice of various religious sects and orders to export religious preachers to those host countries and tax the migrant works. In many cases government failed to provide these services which has high demand and finally this burden also falls in to the Migrant workers head. If government intend to get involved in this services must go for all four religions as well. Poor migrant workers offer things varied from Atapirikara ( Buddhist Offerings)to Wine ( mainly Christians do ) for these popular preachers including their air fare and hotel bills.



Lack of cultural interaction



Then comes the organized Musical and cultural show organizers and they organize at least 3- 4 shows per year and some times it goes up to 6 in some in certain countries. A country like Korea a ticket will cost 25 USD and in Middle Eastern country it will come down to10-12 USD and Italy it will be higher than that. These show organizers take various types of Musicians & Bands to where Migrant workers are living as it’s a lucrative and profit making business for them. Poor migrant workers can be easily attracted to these business ventures due to their lonely life styles that they undergo in their host countries.



Banks and Dreams



Sending remittance is a costly thing irrespective of ownership of the bank is state or not. All most all the banks do charge commissions from Migrant workers it comes to about 1500/= for each transaction. There is large number of unauthorized money senders where they involved in Forex business by currency supplying to business community. They don’t charge any thing therefore they are very much popular among workers. In cases forgers runaway with the earnings of migrant workers. NRFC accounts of many banks are just an eyewash and their promises are not real. Some banks promise low Interest Housing Loans but once you go to banks they said its only for the 200,000 and if the loan is more than that then the interest will be higher. These benefits and its limits are not divulged at the time of account opening. This is misleading and cheating and only for attract poor Migrant workers with sugar coated words but really no benefits. Further these loans are extremely difficult to obtain as migrant workers has to prove their income where they are unable.



Promises



Duty free is another cheat for Migrant workers as many household items are out of the list of Duty free items. Cargo taxes can be reduced for the Migrant workers and special benefits can be offer to the Migrant workers. I have seen in many occasion that how Customs officers treat poor migrant workers at the custom warehouses. Most of the Migrant workers bring second hand items and small items that thrown out by their employers and at the customs these poor people are being exploited and some times mercilessly. I have seen how women leave the place crying as they couldn’t take any thing home as their duty is extremely high. There is no educating process or clear advices on custom duties and calculation patterns , Poor domestic helper are being victims of various person at those warehouses specially from Customs.



Migrant workers are thirst of information about their families specially the mothers but for many of them it’s a costly business. Many migrant workers spend good percentage of their income on call cards and telephones all of them buy a mobile as they wants to communicate with their loved once Mobile Market is very lucrative among the Migrant workers. Most of the Migrant workers are become victims of various taxes that government charge directly and indirectly as well as Job Money.



Almost all the job Agencies charge job money and they do not confined to government charges, but charge between 250UDS to 1500 USD depend on the country. If it’s a European country the amount will go up to 1 Million. None of these agents give receipts for these money but they charge these amounts as job seekers pay anything to get a job.



Health from you own wealth



In many places these poor workers have to look after their health needs and medicine in some cases there are free medical facilities and insurances. None of the host countries has proper psychosocial interventions for Migrant works and embassies are not equipped enough to handle these kind of cases. Many of the workers under go emotional issues but no body to help them. These psycho social issues finally deal by the bogus agents and many lose their money to those fake people.



Succession



Most of the Migrant Workers continuously occupied as Migrant Workers and even brought their children in to the industry and some are entering third generation Migrants. Since Sri Lanka is involved in Migrant workers industry for last 40 Years the Third generation is now entering in to the industry . If migration is a successful and sustainable industry then third generation must be live in comfortable lives. But the truth is far different from that. Over the past 4 decades governments of Sri Lankan didn’t have a proper plan for Migrant workers future. Government just enjoyed the colossal amount of remittance earned by the Migrant workers and did nothing to them neither protect them from others. From Remittance to counseling, communication to duty free items , government can intervene and make these people lives more productive and sustainable and easy . But it’s very sad that all the governments were failed to so do. At least embassies and consular sections doesn’t give any concession for the migrant workers on their renewal of Passport or any official matter but seek donations when ever government needs support back in Sri Lanka.



End Note



I will end this with a constructive note a friend of mine workers for Migrant organization and shared with me. According to her some migrant organization are already involved in collective actions for Migrant investments in Countries like Philippines. These investments will bring sustainability and dignity for the migrant workers and transform their life perceptions as well. The ultimate goal of these Philippine Migrant organizations were to buy the majority shares of a air line and provide better services for Migrant workers. This can be a dream but a dream that every migrant workers should dream where their lives end in dignified position. . Otherwise Migrant workers will see their 4th generation also entering into the same industry. We as a country will fall in to such shameful position unless we do some thing to bring sustainability to the lives of Migrant workers. From the Migrant workers side prevention and stop exploitation is a major and urgent need where they expect from the government and relax the red tapes.



Sri Lankan Government can do many interventions if they are interested. Initiate a separate Duty free complex for Migrant workers and Government owned cheaper international call card system can be a good beginning. As well as regularity bodies for every section where migrant workers involved or strengthen Sri Lankan Bureau for Foreign Employment (SLBFE) collective partnership of State , Private sector and Migrant Rights Groups.

Police Powers to SLBFE -It's too dangerous

By G.S.L.J.S. Dias –A.A.L

It was my serious concern that SLBFE operating police powers without any legal framework especially in relation to arrest and detention at the Airport



I queried the legality of a Government bureau preventing people leaving the country and obstructing their right to movement.



Last week I have been able to experience SLBFE again at the Airport and for my dismay it was only a just a calling by the SLBFE People in two occasion they call me "excuse me Sir" and I purposely ignored their calling as I know they have no powers to either stop me or talk to me, as Lawyer I knew that I don’t need to obeying them legally. But I saw many other innocent poor travelers listened to them and disclosed their travel documents to these People. And as usual some of them were penalized. I was come in to their notice as I purposely behaved like a fearful person and amateur to the Airport. Otherwise they will not notice me or call me.



Still the issue is what will be the screening methodology that SLBFE is going to follow towards identifying migrant workers at the airport. My continuation challenge even this time , is based on a serious news that appeared in the Sunday Times newspaper that SLBFE is seeking Police powers. Then some other newspapers also carried the same news items in detail and some said that the amendments will bring to parliament near as 24th September 2009.



Even though this is late we need to see the gravity of the amendments that going to discuss at the parliament. Police powers are serious authority over civil people. It has rights to arrest, detain and submit people to the judiciary. The news items are not details enough, up to what extend SLBFE is seeking Police powers, but Daily news reports as below;

" In a bid to curb illegal acts perpetrated by both legal and rogue overseas job agents, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is seeking sweeping powers including permission to arrest without warrant any person violating regulations.

Also under the new proposals, the failure of a job agent to keep his promise to send an eligible migrant worker abroad would come under a fine ranging from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 20,000.

These powers are sought under the proposed amendments to the SLBFE Act, which are to be presented in Parliament shortly. "

The details given is interesting and positive many angles and building hopes for better Foreign employment services but also raise eyebrows as there are fishy areas too. Its very much known to every one that Job Agents charge exorbitant amounts and fees and usual amount is above 50,000 , so charging maximum of 20,000 for those who breach promises will put the migrant workers in to further problem as any body can charge huge amounts and promise a job but the failure will only end up with 20,000. As most of the Job agents won't give the receipts no body will be able to proof any misdeeds. Yesterday a woman called me for errant job agent where she was given a job after pay 70,000. She was asked to leave after 6 months and now she is looking for redress. She even didn’t know what to do and where to complain. I told her to complain to SLBFE and bring the reference to me to follow up. In such situations the new amendments doesn't mean any thing but leaving big loop holes.

The main topic still the police powers with other minor issues. At the moment few department has Powers to arrest people. Such as Excise Department, Customs, Police and Security Forces and immigration and bribery. Except for bribery rest are departments and even bribery was a departments and now is a commission under a parliament act. This is the first time a bureau of this nature is going to have police powers and the records of SLBFE doesn't support such powers. It can be easily abused and there we need more other restriction instead of police powers. The poor migrant workers will face sever problems as travelers and uneducated public. Even torture can be taken place in such detention places and its not clear whether Government Bureau is covers by the torture act. If not this is a licensing structure out of government to torture. This will not provide a good precedent.

The other factor that civil society and the parliamentarians need to concentrate that is the political appointments that are taking place with the bureau and irregularities that often we hear. With the police powers many thing can be covered and those who are voices against them can be silences with false charges as they have Rights to arrest people with out a warrant. This kind of powers to an organization with poor reputation and political appointments can bring the behavior of wild ass and it seems that the issues in the foreign employment sector wrongly identify and wrongly redress.

The amendments are very serious and it's so sad as those amendments are going to discuss at the parliament with out any public discussion and judicial check and balances. Leaving to a job is a personnel Right and personnel decision, but we need regularity body as its practiced in mass scale and there for regularities are also mass scales. Regularities don't mean suppression or violations of personnel Rights. I always stand for taking legal actions against any body do crimes but not through the repressive laws that can be extremely harmful to the wider population in this case directly around 6 Million People. Migrants are helpless group of our society, we as rights defenders need to protect them and their rights. Otherwise they will be victims by the same laws that came to their protection.

Migrant Workers Rights & International Detention

By G.S.L.J.S. Dias –A.A.L







As a sending country we need to pay little bit more attention on International Detention and Sri Lankan Migrant workers as we are poorly aware about this subject.



For sure none of the government bodies that deals with Migrant Workers has any clear figures about how many Sri Lankans are in the prisons in various countries that specially Sri Lankans migrated as migrant Workers. When I was in Hong Kong I use to visit some of them with my little access but was not being able to practice as I was not officially authorized to do so. But I knew many of their stories and mental agony that they are gone through. When some one living in a foreign land he is alien to the culture and social life of that country , When they are imprisoned they will experiences the alienation thousand times more. Especially most of the countries they are not using international languages in their prisons and loneliness and alienation will be extreme situation to these international prisoners mainly migrant workers.



Sri Lankan Migrant workers are detained in many countries for various reasons including Immigration offences, Murder, Theft, Traffic Related offences, Moral offences, asylum related detention and drug related Offences. Many of them are doesn't have access to Legal assistance or legal representations. In many cases these people are unaware that even in foreign countries they are entitle to legal Representations and it’s a Universal Right. Many Sri Lankan Embassies are lack of human power to attend to their nationals living in the prisons or they are not interested. There are many incidents reported to me that Sri Lankan embassies are unaware of most of the prison case or visit them only once. Some are imprisoned soon after they landed sue to a faults of the recruitment agents.



In some embassies that are lawyers as a part of attaché but many places there are no such facilities. Even the lawyers whom recruited by the SLBFE or Embassies have a limited scope as Legal systems of such countries are not permitted foreign lawyers to do court practices. Simply these lawyers are listing and visiting Para-legals in many of the receiving countries, due the above restrictions. In the Rizana Nafiqe in KSA , even Sri Lanka government failed to act spontaneously and finally its Asian Human Rights commission came to the rescue of Rizana with the legal fees. The main issue that delayed Rizana's case was monitory inability of the Sri Lankan government where Sri Lankan earns 33% its foreign remittance form Migrant workers.



Lack of Legal Knowledge



One major issue that Most of the migrant Workers are facing is poor legal awareness or lack of knowledge on laws related to their work and basic laws. This is a responsibility of the recruiting agencies as well as embassy of the country. Due the economical depravation prevails in the country most of the migrant workers are uneducated and poor. No way that we can expect them to know the laws. Even some of them are unaware of the laws of their own country. In that case these people are deprived of legal Assistance form the Embassies or a Sri Lankan government system and obtain legal knowledge form the Embassies. As far as Hong Kong the government provides a hand book for Migrant workers. The hand book even with some mistakes provides a very good knowledge base for Migrant workers and it's available in both Singhalese and Tamil languages. The book also provides about where they can get legal assistance important contacts how to behave in the country ect ect. If Migrant workers have such book then they are some what resourced. This is not done by the Sri Lankan consulate in Hong Kong but by the Government of Hong Kong and it’s a service of the Government for all the migrant works irrespective of Nationality.



It's very essential that Middle Eastern countries do the same as many of the migrant workers are very much new to the culture and the laws of those countries. In the other hand the laws are very strict in those places and very much different to the Roman Dutch and British legal norms of Sri Lanka. Philippines Migrant workers can be a good example for any country. They are organized and futures thinking even though their government is equally corrupt as ours.



Lack of Interest



If Sri Lankan government is financially weak to initiate such endeavors they can initiate collective endeavors with other sending countries and it then only needed arise is to translate in to Sinhalese and Tamil languages. I am sure that in many places Philippines organizations would have done this already. These are preventive measures while the Government and SLBFE also under obligations of providing these Migrant workers proper visitations and other assistance while they are serving prison terms.



The Embassy officials should have a proper visitation schemes and full details of the all Sri Lankan prisoners in each and every country. Some countries are offer clemency for prisoners during various cultural and Rights based festivals including Ramadan n d International day for Human Rights. As far as I know Sri Lankan embassies are very weak in such interventions on behalf of their country men/women for the reasons only known to them.



Many of the prisoners face a dire need of Communication with their families and in some case prisons doesn't have such facilities and language barriers. Government SLBFE and embassies need to introduce facilities in consultation with the respective government in a reasonable basis. Specially families living in Sri Lankan need to communicate and these communicating's are extremely humane in nature and it’s a right. Unfortunately many of the things I discuss are not happening, it's not only a matter of finances but lack of interest and also the government interest on migrant workers. In the other hand its also a human responsibility as a people of Sri Lankan to spend times on our people in the prison, some times we are willing to spend a lot of charity or get some religious person to host countries but not at all interested to visit prisoners whom are in great needs. In places like Korea some emigrant workers are living in Sanctuaries such as churches and temple and it these religious people whom look after them but not the embassies.



Mobilizing the influential



In all the countries there are Sri Lankan Associations as well as many able and influential persons belong to the Sri Lankan community of the respective country. The embassy can easily mobilize those able people and influential people to support and help the Prison community. In many instances the Sri Lankan associations are also bit hesitance to get involved in Prisoners are they think it’s a extra burden. But as person doing it in the country and did while I was abroad I know how much of relief we can bring to those who are in prisons. Usually the Migrant workers have poor attitudes towards the Prisoners but no one can ever say I m out of that danger. Therefore we have to make aware the migrant community about the possibilities and helping hand they can offer. There is no other hell than become prisoner in a foreign land where the prisoner is total aliens and living on the mercy of un know people. Therefore it’s a grave responsibility of the government to protect them look after them and assist them to deal their issues in Rights based approach. Especially for a country that earns from Migrant workers it's a must.



The Other important thing that Sri Lankan government doesn't looking is hire or recruit a lawyer from the respective country where spontaneously legal assistance cane be offer. This is very useful in many angles as the lawyer that Embassy recruit can speak the language and the awareness of the culture and connections. These are very important where ever the prisoners are concern,. I have no way heard that SLBFE supports legally for those who are in prison unless it’s a world famous case such as Rizana. The Money collected by SLBFE ( now with Police powers) can be utilize in each country where Sri Lankans are working to build a support fund to legal assistance. There should be an officer to deal with the Run away maids, Run away workers and al the other people whom come across with the legal and dentition issues , in many cases before they are being detains.



Ending note;



It's very unfortunate to hear many cases that Sri Lankan Migrant workers are living in very poor conditions and without any assistance from the Sri Lankan government or SLBFE. I know personnel where family remembers seeking friend jobs just to look after their loves ones or get them away. I personally support them and heard many other cases. It's not some thing that a single person can for and it’s the responsibility of the Government and its arms. It's important that government to understand that this as a possibility and the potentiality of the Migrant workers to become prisoners. Prevention as well as guarantee the Universal rights such as Rights to legal representations need to be attend immediately. Otherwise it's only a exploitation of its own people by a government or a money grabbing.

Government warns of stern action against human smuggling

– Daily Mirror-26.10.09




The government has warned that stern action will be taken against any group or individual involved in human smuggling. State television quoted Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe as saying the defence establishments have been placed on alert to crack down on such operations.

Minister Smarasingha told state TV that human smuggling involving Sri Lankans has tarnished the image of the country and steps will be taken to prosecute all those involved in such activities. (ER)

10% of Sri Lankan foreign labour faced abuses in 2001 – Sunday Times – 25th October 2009

In 2001, 10% of Sri Lanka 's migrant labour faced abuse of a physical, psychological or sexual nature, with low skilled categories subjected to high levels of abuse. In 2007, there were 8,445 complaints received, a new study shows.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka earned 7% of its Gross Domestic Product (US$ 3 billion) from remittances attributable to foreign workers, 80% of these from Middle East countries and about 18% from Europe . These earnings made up 36% export earnings and 21% import payments, and have become the leading source of foreign capital to the country, overtaking inflows from foreign aid and foreign direct investment.

There are presently 1.8 million Sri Lankans estimated to be working abroad with 250,000 being the annual outflow of workers; 21% of the country's total 2007 labor force. In addition, Sri Lanka also had the highest rate of expatriation of doctors to OECD countries and the third highest rate of expatriation of nurses.

The majority of Sri Lanka's foreign workers proved to be housemaids or unskilled workers (together 70%) while 24.7% were skilled. 82% of all local labor was expatriated to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Housemaids or unskilled workers remitted 80% of their income back home, while skilled labour mostly spent their income abroad.

These facts were revealed at the launch of the first edition of the "International Migration Outlook - Sri Lanka 2008" country report commissioned by the International Organization for Migration.

The report, which was compiled by Sri Lanka's Institute of Policy Studies and based on data gathered from the "Department of Emigration and Immigration, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, the CID, the BOI, Sri Lanka Tourist Board, and Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Sri Lanka, IOM and others", also identified a number of areas of concern for the future of for the country's foreign employment sector, including: a "skills mismatch of what is demanded by foreign countries and what Sri Lankan workers could offer"; a "tremendous need" to make zonal remittance centres available to rural parts of the country; and a lack of conventions with the Middle East (currently only signed memorandums of understanding exist) pertaining to the treatment of Sri Lankan foreign employees.

10% of Sri Lankan foreign labour faced abuses in 2001

– Sunday Times – 25th October 2009
In 2001, 10% of Sri Lanka 's migrant labour faced abuse of a physical, psychological or sexual nature, with low skilled categories subjected to high levels of abuse. In 2007, there were 8,445 complaints received, a new study shows.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka earned 7% of its Gross Domestic Product (US$ 3 billion) from remittances attributable to foreign workers, 80% of these from Middle East countries and about 18% from Europe . These earnings made up 36% export earnings and 21% import payments, and have become the leading source of foreign capital to the country, overtaking inflows from foreign aid and foreign direct investment.
There are presently 1.8 million Sri Lankans estimated to be working abroad with 250,000 being the annual outflow of workers; 21% of the country's total 2007 labor force. In addition, Sri Lanka also had the highest rate of expatriation of doctors to OECD countries and the third highest rate of expatriation of nurses.
The majority of Sri Lanka's foreign workers proved to be housemaids or unskilled workers (together 70%) while 24.7% were skilled. 82% of all local labor was expatriated to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Housemaids or unskilled workers remitted 80% of their income back home, while skilled labour mostly spent their income abroad.
These facts were revealed at the launch of the first edition of the "International Migration Outlook - Sri Lanka 2008" country report commissioned by the International Organization for Migration.
The report, which was compiled by Sri Lanka's Institute of Policy Studies and based on data gathered from the "Department of Emigration and Immigration, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, the CID, the BOI, Sri Lanka Tourist Board, and Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Sri Lanka, IOM and others", also identified a number of areas of concern for the future of for the country's foreign employment sector, including: a "skills mismatch of what is demanded by foreign countries and what Sri Lankan workers could offer"; a "tremendous need" to make zonal remittance centres available to rural parts of the country; and a lack of conventions with the Middle East (currently only signed memorandums of understanding exist) pertaining to the treatment of Sri Lankan foreign employees.

Sri Lanka migrant labour seen safe from downturn

LBO>>General Services
Nomadic Workers
22 Oct, 2009 13:26:15

Oct 22, 2009 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's migrant workers and their remittances are unlikely to be seriously affected by the global economic slowdown, the Institute of Policy Studies said in a report.
"Despite the emerging evidence that there will be a sharp decline in global remittance flows, Sri Lanka appears not to be at significant risk of experiencing a sharp downturn in inflows in the near term," it said in a report.
The bulk of migrant workers from Sri Lanka are in the Middle East region, engaged in low skilled jobs and as housemaids, the report on the state of the island economy by the think tank said.
"This category of workers typically tends to save less in the host country which ensures that a high proportion of their income is remitted back home to support their dependents," it said.
"This scenario can be expected to continue in the current environment of an economic slowdown, as most migrant workers are supporting the basic needs of their dependents back home."
According to the Central Bank, workers’ remittances increased by 9.9 percent to 2,195 million US dollars in August 2009 from a year ago.
The IPS also noted that remittances are sent by accumulated flows of migrants over the years, and not only by new migrants of the last year or so.
"This can make remittances more stable over time," the report said.
Sri Lanka may also not face the additional stress of significant numbers of returning migrants due to job lay-offs.
Job losses so far are seen mainly in employment sectors that are more sensitive to economic cycles.
These include private construction work, manufacturing, financial services, retail and trade and tourism related services, and it is migrants in these particular sectors that are affected.
But the IPS said the numbers of Sri Lankan migrants in these sectors are not particularly significant.
The report said that evidence of past economic downturns show that migrant workers are often the most vulnerable in terms of job losses and treatment in the host country but that Sri Lankan workers are likely to be unaffected given the nature of their work.
"The bulk of Sri Lanka's migrant workers - comprising of housemaids that account for 47 percent of Sri Lanka's temporary workers - is less likely to be immediately affected by the global economic downturn," the IPS report said.
"This is particularly so due to the type of occupation where the locals are reluctant to engage in similar work. Such jobs are not taken up by many locals for both social and economic reasons."
But unskilled migrant workers, especially those in the construction industry, may be affected by the slowdown in construction and service sectors in Gulf economies such as Dubai which has been badly hit by the recession.
The report also said that recent studies suggest that in some sectors like health care, household domestic employment where demand for workers is more stable, loss of employment opportunities will be minimal.
However, the report said in some sectors workers might face problems like reduced wages or non-payment of wages or reduced working days

Tamil Canadians to offer seized migrants legal help

Sun Oct 18, 11:33 pm ET

VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) – The Canadian Tamil Congress said its lawyers will represent dozens of illegal migrants arrested on a ship seized off Canada's West Coast.

Detention hearings will begin early this week for as many as 76 migrants from a freighter seized Friday by Canadian military, police and other agencies.

The migrants were transported Sunday to a jail in Vancouver "where the Canadian Border Services Agency will continue to examine their admissibility to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act," agency official Rob Johnston said Sunday in a statement.

Johnston was tight-lipped about whether the migrants are Sri Lankan.

"The number of individuals being detained, their ages or their origin cannot be confirmed," he said.

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said in Ottawa Saturday the ship may have come from Sri Lanka, but added that had not been confirmed.

A spokesperson with the Canadian Tamil Congress said the organization, which represents 500,000 Tamils living in Canada, has had no confirmation but suspects the migrants are Tamils fleeing strife in Sri Lanka.

"We have not been able to get in touch with anyone," Sue Nathan told AFP Sunday.

But Nathan said the Congress is flying lawyers from Toronto to Vancouver to represent the migrants.

Sri Lankan in Kuwait celebrates Deepavali

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mon, 2009-10-19 02:04 — editor
Gulf Countries
Kuwait, 19 October, (Asiantribune.com):
In recognition of the beliefs and aspirations of Hindu devotees, the Seva Vanitha Unit of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait on 17th October organized a “Deepavali Festival” at the Embassy premises with the participation of the Embassy staff, their family members, well-wishers and over 50 inmates of the Embassy Suraksha Nivahana belonging to all faiths.

This is first ever Deepavali festival to have been organized by the Embassy staff in Kuwait. The celebrations began with the lighting of ceremonial oil lamp following which a welcome speech was delivered by Mrs. Ramanika Dissanayake, President of the Seva Vanitha Unit. She welcomed those present for the Deepavali celebrations and appreciated their commitment and support to the Embassy in organizing this Hindu festival in a fitting manner.

In his brief remarks Ambassador Sarath Dissanayake thanked the Seva Vanitha Unit and its members for organizing a Deepavali festival for the first time in Kuwait. He also noted the relevance of Deepavali celebrations for forging unity, peace and harmony among different nationalities of Sri Lanka, at a time a new era of peace and unity has ushered in the country following the defeat of terrorism. He extended best wishes to the Sri Lankan Hindu community in Kuwait for a “Happy and Peaceful Deepavali”.

Mr. A M Indranesan, Attaché delivered a special speech highlighting the relevance of Deepavali for Hindus in particular and Sri Lankans in general for their socio cultural emancipation. He also recalled the historic epic “Ramayanaya” from which he traced the origins of Deepavali which was narrated in the famous Rama – Seetha episode. He thanked the Embassy Seva Vanitha Unit for having organized Deepavali celebrations at the Embassy which was a memorable event for the Hindu community in Kuwait.

The audience was mesmerized by a group of children who dressed in traditional Tamil attire performed a dance depicting the Deepavali “Festival of Lights”. The Seva Vanitha members clad in typical dresses for the occasion performed a Tamil drama and a classical song of Sri Lankan origin.

A fashion dress parade also held for the kids and ladies which was well appreciated by the audience for its elegance and diversity. The models who dressed in attractive and colorful costumes stole the evening much to the delight of all. The winners of the fashion show and dress parade were awarded special prizes. Over 50 Suraksha Nivahana inmates of Hindu faith were delighted that they could celebrate one of their most important festivals on the Hindu calendar thanks to the generosity of the Embassy.

Mr. Sunil Sarath Perera, Minister Counsellor delivered a special message of appreciation while the vote of thanks was readout by Mrs. Kalyani Herath, Minister Counsellor. At the end of the festival all invitees partook in a traditional meal hosted by the Embassy Seva Vanitha Unit. A special tribute was paid by the invitees to the Seva Vanitha Unit members for the hard work and special efforts put in by them to make the Deepavali festival a success.

Proceedings of the event was conducted by Miss Roshana Alie and Mr. M.B.M. Zarook.

- Asian Tribune -

Migrant workers lead foreign capital inflow

Daily News – 19th October 2009
Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

At a glance

* Total number of out migrants estimated to be 1.8 million

* Remittances of migrant workers around $ 3 billion

* First country report on International Migration Outlook 2008 launched


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remittances of migrant workers are close to US $ 3 billion or seven percent of the GDP or 36 percent of exports earnings and it is the second largest foreign exchange earner to Sri Lanka .

It has become the leading source of foreign capital to Sri Lanka , overtaking the official development assistance and foreign direct investment Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Executive Director Dr. Saman Kelegama said.

International labour migration is an important area in the Sri Lanka ’s socio-economic system.

Migration from Sri Lanka has grown in importance for the past several decades and the numbers have increased over tenfold during the same period.

The total number of out migrants of Sri Lanka on employment abroad at present is estimated to be 1.8 million while annually the outflow of workers is estimated to be around 250,000 people, he said.

In 2007, 23 percent of the total employment generated and 21 percent of the labour force in Sri Lanka was represented by foreign employment. he said.

Sri Lanka has a huge mismatch between the international demand for jobs and its supply capabilities.

The most pressing issue is the skill mismatch of what is demanded by the foreign countries and what Sri Lankan workers could offer. The Government has placed special emphasis on the promotion of high skilled workers as against the low skilled categories of labour migrants, but much work needs to be done, he said. The first country report on International Migration Outlook Sri Lanka 2008 was launched on Friday

I confessed under duress: Lankan maid

Mohammad Rasooldeen I Arab News

RIYADH: Rizana Nafeek, the Sri Lankan maid, who has been in jail for the past four years for allegedly killing a Saudi infant in 2005, told a court on Sunday that her first confession was made under duress and as a result of a physical assault.

Nafeek made this statement before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Abdullah Al-Rosaimi at a court in Dawadmi. Her statement in court was translated by Abdul Kareem, an Indian electrician who acted as her interpreter on Sunday.

Nafeek told the court that she was assaulted and was forced to confess since she feared for her life. Khateb Al-Shammary, Nafeek’s lawyer, said that the bench would forward the results of its deliberations to the high court in Riyadh which would in turn decide the next course of action.

For Sunday’s hearing, the police investigating officer, the local religious police and Nafeek were summoned for questioning. The father of the deceased infant, Naif Jiziyan Khalaf Al-Otaibi, who has regularly appeared, was not summoned to court on Sunday. Having recorded Nafeek’s statement, the judge also took a statement from police investigating officer who was present in court.

On recording the statement from the police officer, the judge ordered the police to produce two witnesses to vouch at the next hearing for the honesty and integrity of the officer.

Sarath Kumara, first secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, and Abdul Lateef Mohammed Jabir, mission’s coordinator were present at the court to look after the interests of the accused.

Sri Lankan migrants launch 'hunger strike' in Indonesia

Daily Mirror 16th October 2009



More than 250 Sri Lankan asylum seekers launched a hunger strike in Indonesia on Thursday after they were intercepted en route to Australia in a wooden boat.
The migrants unfurled a banner on their vessel, which they are refusing to leave, saying: "15-10-2009. Life? Death. Hunger Strike for International Community".
Indonesian officials have pleaded with the Sri Lankans to leave the boat, accept temporary accommodation in Indonesia and submit their applications for asylum through the normal channels.
But Banten provincial immigration head Harry Purwanto admitted there was "limited space" currently available for them.
"We're still looking for shelter for them and don't wish to separate them because we're worried they may disagree," he said.
The tightly-packed boat was stopped Sunday after a reported tip-off from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The group's unofficial spokesman, who gives his name as Alex, threatened to set the boat on fire with cooking equipment but later admitted the threats were not serious.
He has told reporters the asylum seekers are in danger in Sri Lanka in the wake of the government's defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels, although he denies any of the 255 men, women and children on board are separatists.
"We are staying on this boat until the international community comes together and makes a decision on finding a way to get us out of this country," he told reporters.
"We can go anywhere -- to New Zealand, to Canada -- as long as we're not deported to Sri Lanka ."
The stand-off has fuelled Australia 's debate about illegal immigration, with Rudd under mounting pressure from the conservative opposition to stiffen border security.
It has also highlighted Indonesia 's failure to crack down on people-smuggling networks that use the country's permissive legal environment to profit from the desperation of some migrants.
Australia has been forced to boost capacity at Christmas Island , the main detention centre for unauthorised boat arrivals, to 1,400 by installing 280 temporary beds.
About 1,650 asylum-seekers have arrived in Australia since January and 1,016 plus 19 crew are being held at Christmas Island for processing. (AFP)

Lanka to combat violence against female migrant workers

Sri Lanka told the UN yesterday that combating violence against female migrant workers is the high priority of the Sri Lankan government as violence against women migrant workers persists and undocumented women migrant workers remain particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and discrimination.

“We strongly support efforts by UN agencies to promote targeted measures including strengthening of contractual agreements, control over recruitment agencies, information campaigns besides efforts to encourage Member States to implement relevant legislation. We have also recently developed a National Labour Migration Policy, which inter alia, seeks to protect human rights of female migrant workers. Sri Lanka has also been successful in negotiating bilateral agreements with several countries to which we send our migrant workers to ensure their welfare and protection,” Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe told the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday.

Addressing the third Committee of the Advancement of Women at the UN General Assembly the Minister also said that political accommodation through an inclusive reconciliation process will be the final component in the Government’s efforts to finally end nearly three decades of conflict.

He said that to guide and give direction to the overall process of national healing, reconciliation and political accommodation of all Sri Lankans within a unified democratic framework, a multi-party Committee on Development and Reconciliation has been convened by the President.

“The forum reflects the Government’s commitment to a pluralistic and inclusive approach in addressing post-conflict challenges. The present focus of this Committee is on the immediate concerns relating to IDPs. With the gradual restoration of democracy and the resuscitation of institutions of representative governance as we have seen in the East and subsequently in the North, the Committee’s deliberations are expected to set in motion a home-grown process aimed at ensuring long term stability through the addressing of legitimate political and developmental needs of the people in those areas,” the Minister said.

He also said that the approximately 10,000 ex-combatants who are undergoing rehabilitation must be given continued attention and their reintegration into civilian life to complement the attempts at normalization and reconciliation launched by the President, are the two final components of the integrated strategy that the Government has put in place.

Sri Lankan migrants arrested in Indonesia 'very ill'

Daily Mirror 13th October 2009



The Sri Lankan migrants captured off Indonesian waters are in very poor condition and are still feeling tired due to the long journey in the sea, Indonesian authorities say.

Head of information department of Indonesian Navy, First Admiral Iskandar Sitompul told BBC Sinhala service that many Tamil nationals were among the captured migrants who have been “floating in the sea” for many days.

30 women and 30 children are among the 260 migrants in a cargo ship intercepted by the Indonesian authorities on Sunday, he added.

The migrants, suspected of trying to sail illegally to Australia , were captured on Sunday by the Indonesian authorities.

First Admiral Iskandar Sitompul added that the migrants are still being questioned “one by one” in the sea off Merak harbour by navy officials.

The migrants might be allowed into Indonesia , “hopefully tomorrow” after the interrogations, he added, and will be detained in migration centres.

The migrants had set sail from Malaysia and paid nearly 15,000 US dollars per person to a people smuggler, he told BBC Indonesian service.

“First they went to Singapore then Malaysia , but not all together. They started the journey in July and at the end a total of 260 people met up in Malaysia ,” First Admiral Sitompul said.

He added that the migrants had had food when they left Malaysia , but now the food is finished, and when found, some of them were malnourished.

Most of them have skin problems because of the condition on the boat. Some have broken bones and four of them were admitted to the hospital.

A spokesman at the Sri Lankan embassy in Indonesia told BBC Sandeshaya that they were not informed of the incident.

Hundreds of thousands of Tamil nationals have left Sri Lanka as a result of the conflict between the Sri Lanka military and Tamil Tigers.

Although the military conflict has ended in May, many Tamil nationals are still trying to migrate, usually by illegal means, to the West and other countries.

In an apparent attempt to turn the tide, Australia recently deported six Sri Lankan illegal migrants.

The Sri Lankan high commissioner in Australia has told the media that all of the deported were Sinhala nationals and there was no threat to their life in Sri Lanka . (BBC Sinhala)

Migrant workers can be diplomats!

Migrant workers can be diplomats! – Sunday Observer – 11th October 2009
by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The main concern of migrant workers is not only remitting money back home to support their families, but also could play a role of commercial diplomats for their country.

The book 'Internationalisation of Sri Lankan Entrepreneurship, a study of Sri Lankan immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan ' by Prof. H.D. Karunaratne of the Department of Business Economics, Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo gives us a new dimension to immigrant entrepreneurship, an emerging concept of the migrant labour market.

The book deals with a vital aspect of entrepreneurship development in Sri Lanka and the structural changes which took place including the emergence of immigrant entrepreneurship following the liberalisation of economic activities.

Emerging economies such as India and China have used their overseas population to enhance economic prospects.Building linkages, trade promotions, employment generation and strengthening bilateral ties are vital aspects of immigrant entrepreneurship.

The writer is particular that migration should not be considered only as a means of earning foreign currency to the country but also as an opportunity to develop tourism, industries and export markets.

Sri Lanka's black tea market in Japan has grown by 69 percent which is a catalyst for other products to venture into foreign markets.

Japan Immigration Bureau sources record that the total number of registered Sri Lankans in Japan increased from 509 in 1985 to 12,000 in 2007 which is a 75 percent growth per annum.

Sri Lanka is one of the leading migrant suppliers to the world which is around 10 percent of the country's population and around 15 percent of the labour force.

The country sends substantial number of skilled workers to the Middle East, Asia and Europe .

The book contains eight chapters with an introductory chapter, background, objectives, methodology and limitations followed by a review on immigrant entrepreneurship, presents structural features, growth performance and economic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka .

Based on extensive research the book makes a salient contribution to bring the internationalisation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship with the globalisation of economic activities.

The effort made by the author is crucial in terms of continued existence and growth of Sri Lankan diaspora in Japan and the steps needed to be taken by policy makers to make maximum use of the Sri Lankan entrepreneurship in Japan who account for over 16 years of business experience.

Encourage migrant labour : UNDP

Tuesday, October 13, 2009


By Olindhi Jayasundere

The UNDP (United Nations Development Program) yesterday expressed the need to encourage migrant labour in Sri Lanka by mainstreaming migration into the development strategy of the country.

Sri Lanka UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne addressed the media and other officials said that mobility both within and across the borders accelerate the growth and development of the people and the country at large.

“Reports have shown that migration has a positive impact on the income, education and the health of migrants. Those with lower skills have better potential to become higher skilled workers. This has been shown clearly in health indicators and quality of life indicators,” Buhne said.

UNDP research reports indicates that migrants from the poorest countries on average saw a 15-fold increase in incomes, a doubling in education, and a reduction in child mortality rates after moving to a developed country.

Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Secretary Sunil Sirisena who was also present at the discussion said in 2008 alone the country received US $ 3 billion in remittances, this is 7-8% of the country’s GDP.

Mr. Buhne said that migrant labour must be encouraged but that it has its deficiencies as well. “The violation of fundamental rights are some of the shortcomings in migrant labour because certain nations do not abide by the migration policies that exist”, he said.


Copyright © Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.

Migrant workers can be diplomats

________________________________________

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE
The main concern of migrant workers is not only remitting money back home to support their families, but also could play a role of commercial diplomats for their country.
The book 'Internationalisation of Sri Lankan Entrepreneurship, a study of Sri Lankan immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan ' by Prof. H.D. Karunaratne of the Department of Business Economics, Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo gives us a new dimension to immigrant entrepreneurship, an emerging concept of the migrant labour market.
The book deals with a vital aspect of entrepreneurship development in Sri Lanka and the structural changes which took place including the emergence of immigrant entrepreneurship following the liberalisation of economic activities.
Emerging economies such as India and China have used their overseas population to enhance economic prospects.Building linkages, trade promotions, employment generation and strengthening bilateral ties are vital aspects of immigrant entrepreneurship.
The writer is particular that migration should not be considered only as a means of earning foreign currency to the country but also as an opportunity to develop tourism, industries and export markets.
Sri Lanka's black tea market in Japan has grown by 69 percent which is a catalyst for other products to venture into foreign markets.
Japan Immigration Bureau sources record that the total number of registered Sri Lankans in Japan increased from 509 in 1985 to 12,000 in 2007 which is a 75 percent growth per annum.
Sri Lanka is one of the leading migrant suppliers to the world which is around 10 percent of the country's population and around 15 percent of the labour force.
The country sends substantial number of skilled workers to the Middle East, Asia and Europe .
The book contains eight chapters with an introductory chapter, background, objectives, methodology and limitations followed by a review on immigrant entrepreneurship, presents structural features, growth performance and economic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka .
Based on extensive research the book makes a salient contribution to bring the internationalisation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurship with the globalisation of economic activities.
The effort made by the author is crucial in terms of continued existence and growth of Sri Lankan diaspora in Japan and the steps needed to be taken by policy makers to make maximum use of the Sri Lankan entrepreneurship in Japan who account for over 16 years of business experience.
Sunday Observer

Encourage migrant labour : UNDP

By Olindhi Jayasundere
The UNDP (United Nations Development Program) yesterday expressed the need to encourage migrant labour in Sri Lanka by mainstreaming migration into the development strategy of the country.
Sri Lanka UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne addressed the media and other officials said that mobility both within and across the borders accelerate the growth and development of the people and the country at large.
“Reports have shown that migration has a positive impact on the income, education and the health of migrants. Those with lower skills have better potential to become higher skilled workers. This has been shown clearly in health indicators and quality of life indicators,” Buhne said.
UNDP research reports indicates that migrants from the poorest countries on average saw a 15-fold increase in incomes, a doubling in education, and a reduction in child mortality rates after moving to a developed country.
Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Secretary Sunil Sirisena who was also present at the discussion said in 2008 alone the country received US $ 3 billion in remittances, this is 7-8% of the country’s GDP.
Mr. Buhne said that migrant labour must be encouraged but that it has its deficiencies as well. “The violation of fundamental rights are some of the shortcomings in migrant labour because certain nations do not abide by the migration policies that exist”, he said.

Sri Lankan nine forced to go home

MICHELLE GRATTAN
October 2, 2009


NINE failed asylum seekers are about to be sent home to Sri Lanka - the Rudd Government's first forcible removals of people who have come to Australia by boat.
The removals come as a boat with 69 people on board - the fourth in less than a week - was intercepted early yesterday and the issue of the rising number of unauthorised arrivals heats up politically.
Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said this week the line between economic migrants and refugees was being blurred and Malcolm Turnbull renewed calls for an inquiry.
The Sri Lankans, who have been on Christmas Island, were among 12 who arrived at Shark Bay in November last year. Two have already returned voluntarily after their claims failed and another is appealing to the Federal Court and will stay until that appeal is determined.
The Sri Lankans, due to fly to Perth last night, arrived on the Australian mainland and so had access to the full Australian legal system, unlike those who are intercepted before they land and are taken straight to Christmas Island.
A group of 58 Indonesians is set to leave voluntarily at the weekend. They did not apply for asylum but said they were seeking fruit-picking work.
Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans is using the removals to send a tough message. ''All irregular maritime arrivals found not to be owed protection and with no other basis to remain in Australia will be removed,'' he said.
He said all protection issues raised by this particular group of Sri Lankans had been assessed against Australia's international obligations. There were no issues that would prevent their return to Sri Lanka.
Earlier Senator Evans said that the 500 or so boat arrivals in September reflected a ''worrying change in circumstances'' and was a ''worrying development''.
He said that apart from an increasing flow of Afghan asylum seekers there was now the further challenge of a ''second pipeline'' of people from Sri Lanka, who were coming directly or through Malaysia. This second supply line was more of the problem than the first one, which was through Indonesia. ''Why we're seeing increased numbers is very much driven by the arrival of Sri Lankans.''
Until there was a peaceful settlement in Sri Lanka, Tamils would be seeking asylum in safe countries, he said.
Dealing with this second pipeline would require more resources and Australia was increasing its engagement with the Sri Lankan Government. Nearly 200 of the September arrivals were Sri Lankans.
Senator Evans conceded the political difficulties of the rising number of boat arrivals - now nearly 1600 this year. ''I don't underestimate the political potency of a large number of arrivals.'' But he rejected the Opposition's call for an independent inquiry, saying ''we know what the problem is''.