ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka .
Mar 24, Colombo : Sri Lankan expatriate workers sent home US $ 3.3 billion in 2009 making the remittances the nation's main foreign exchange earner.
This was disclosed by the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion Sunil S. Sirisena when he addressed the meeting following the opening of the first Provincial office of the Foreign Employment Bureau in Vavuniya.
This is a sharp increase from the figure of remittances of US $ 2.9 billion in 2008.
The secretary said that there are 1.8 million Sri Lankan expatriate workers presently. International labor migration from Sri Lanka has grown remarkably over the last decades, with numbers increasing more than tenfold, according to the Central Bank, Annual Report 2008.
Annual outflow of workers is about 250,000 people. In 2007, the equivalent of 23% of total employment generated and 21% of Sri Lanka 's labor force was made up by foreign employment.
Migrant remittances are a mainstay of the Lankan economy, accounting for about 7% of GDP and 36% of export earnings.
Friday, March 26, 2010
FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT BRANCH OPENED IN JAFFNA
Daily News
Boon for foreign job seekers
Suraj A. Bandara From Jaffna
Opening a branch of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau is a long felt need of the people of Jaffna , EPDP leader and Social Welfare and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda said.
A huge demand will be created among the youth of Jaffna to seek job opportunities abroad after a proper training given by this institution, he said.
The 26th branch of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau was set up in the Jaffna District yesterday with the participation of Minister Douglas Devan-anda. This will target all skilled youth in the region. Domestic labour will not be encouraged on foreign employment since there is a surprising demand for the Sri Lankan skilled labour from all over the world. Jaffna is famous for educated and intelligent people and if their knowledge is properly harnessed we will be able to challenge anyone in the world, he said.
The Minister said this was initiated under the program of ‘Northern Spring’ and with the Direct supervision of Senior Presidential Adviser Basil Rajapaksa. This region will be facilitated with all supplies to be on par with the South, the Minister added.
Devananda said, foreign employment is a good source of income for the emerging youth who wasted time for unnecessary targets. Now people will not travel to Colombo to get training and they all will be provided with an expert panel of trainers.
“I requested from the Foreign Employment Minister to set up an office in our area and he directed his officials to set up this Institution with immediate effect to benefit Northern youth.
Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, Foreign Employment Ministry Secretary Sunil A. Sirisena, Foreign Employment Bureau Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka and DGM (training and conciliation) Mangala Randeniya also participated
Boon for foreign job seekers
Suraj A. Bandara From Jaffna
Opening a branch of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau is a long felt need of the people of Jaffna , EPDP leader and Social Welfare and Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda said.
A huge demand will be created among the youth of Jaffna to seek job opportunities abroad after a proper training given by this institution, he said.
The 26th branch of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau was set up in the Jaffna District yesterday with the participation of Minister Douglas Devan-anda. This will target all skilled youth in the region. Domestic labour will not be encouraged on foreign employment since there is a surprising demand for the Sri Lankan skilled labour from all over the world. Jaffna is famous for educated and intelligent people and if their knowledge is properly harnessed we will be able to challenge anyone in the world, he said.
The Minister said this was initiated under the program of ‘Northern Spring’ and with the Direct supervision of Senior Presidential Adviser Basil Rajapaksa. This region will be facilitated with all supplies to be on par with the South, the Minister added.
Devananda said, foreign employment is a good source of income for the emerging youth who wasted time for unnecessary targets. Now people will not travel to Colombo to get training and they all will be provided with an expert panel of trainers.
“I requested from the Foreign Employment Minister to set up an office in our area and he directed his officials to set up this Institution with immediate effect to benefit Northern youth.
Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, Foreign Employment Ministry Secretary Sunil A. Sirisena, Foreign Employment Bureau Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka and DGM (training and conciliation) Mangala Randeniya also participated
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Himal Southasian Runs Story on Migrant Suicide Epidemic
March 16th, 2010
Abusive employers Housemaids Lebanon Suicide Videos Women
Himal Southasian, a regional journal, has carried a story on suicides of migrant women in its online edition, written by Sophia, our Nepal-based editor. You can read the full story here, and also see some clips from Kesang Tseten’s work-in-progress Saving Dolma. We are eagerly awaiting this film!
Abusive employers Housemaids Lebanon Suicide Videos Women
Himal Southasian, a regional journal, has carried a story on suicides of migrant women in its online edition, written by Sophia, our Nepal-based editor. You can read the full story here, and also see some clips from Kesang Tseten’s work-in-progress Saving Dolma. We are eagerly awaiting this film!
Lebanon: Sri Lankan Suicide
March 19th, 2010
Housemaids Lebanon Suicide
The Lebanese National News Agency reported today that, in Jal El Dib (Christian suburb of Beirut), Sri Lankan maid, Ambagla Mudian Silage (born 1980) jumped from the window of Al Rabih employment office located at the fourth floor of Hafiz Abu Jaoude building. She died instantly after her head was completely crushed.
This is the third death of migrant domestic workers occurring in an employment office and not at the employer’s house. This is a worrying pattern, especially in light of the apparent unaccountability of employment offices bringing maids to Lebanon.
Originally published on http://ethiopiansuicides.blogspot.com/
Housemaids Lebanon Suicide
The Lebanese National News Agency reported today that, in Jal El Dib (Christian suburb of Beirut), Sri Lankan maid, Ambagla Mudian Silage (born 1980) jumped from the window of Al Rabih employment office located at the fourth floor of Hafiz Abu Jaoude building. She died instantly after her head was completely crushed.
This is the third death of migrant domestic workers occurring in an employment office and not at the employer’s house. This is a worrying pattern, especially in light of the apparent unaccountability of employment offices bringing maids to Lebanon.
Originally published on http://ethiopiansuicides.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thai Worker Dies from Palestinian Rocket Fire as Israeli Employers Neglect Workers’ Safety
March 20th, 2010
Israel News
On Thursday a 30-year-old Thai worker was killed from a Palestinian rocket that exploded in the Netiv HaAsara village in southern Israel. The rocket was launched by the Ansar al-Sunnah militant organization from the Gaza strip.
Tom Mehager of the Israeli migrant rights NGO Kav LaOved explained that workers have no choice but to work in unsafe areas, since their residency permit is tied to their employer. If the workers want to change jobs to move to a safer location, they lose their legal status. Because workers often have to pay over $8,000 to agents who secure the visa that allows them to enter Israel, the workers are left with no choice but to continue working in an unsafe environment.
Israel employs over 30,000 workers in the agricultural sector, most of whom are Thai workers. According to a Kav LaOved report from last October, migrant workers in this field are subjected to “wide and systematic exploitation” and face “complete abandonment by government authorities”.
Last year, The National reported about a group of Thai laborers who were forced to continue their work during the Gaza War, as their employer went to the bomb shelter with his dogs. The workers were also forced to work all week long on the farm, despite the fact that Israeli law obliges employers to give their workers 36 hours of rest per week. Mehager said that Thai workers, because of their isolation and lack of language skills, are especially ripe for exploitation.
Israel News
On Thursday a 30-year-old Thai worker was killed from a Palestinian rocket that exploded in the Netiv HaAsara village in southern Israel. The rocket was launched by the Ansar al-Sunnah militant organization from the Gaza strip.
Tom Mehager of the Israeli migrant rights NGO Kav LaOved explained that workers have no choice but to work in unsafe areas, since their residency permit is tied to their employer. If the workers want to change jobs to move to a safer location, they lose their legal status. Because workers often have to pay over $8,000 to agents who secure the visa that allows them to enter Israel, the workers are left with no choice but to continue working in an unsafe environment.
Israel employs over 30,000 workers in the agricultural sector, most of whom are Thai workers. According to a Kav LaOved report from last October, migrant workers in this field are subjected to “wide and systematic exploitation” and face “complete abandonment by government authorities”.
Last year, The National reported about a group of Thai laborers who were forced to continue their work during the Gaza War, as their employer went to the bomb shelter with his dogs. The workers were also forced to work all week long on the farm, despite the fact that Israeli law obliges employers to give their workers 36 hours of rest per week. Mehager said that Thai workers, because of their isolation and lack of language skills, are especially ripe for exploitation.
Human rights society wants racism reported
By Abdullah Al-Maqati
DHULUM – The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has urged the public to report any instances of racial discrimination directed at Saudi nationals or expatriates, and has called for studies into social problems that affect individual human rights such as favoritism, nepotism and tribalism.
“Everyone can help in preventing racism and promoting tolerance and moderation,” said Mufleh Al-Qahtani, the chairman of NSHR. “We need to work to cease categorizing people according to race, faith or color.”
King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Al-Qahtani said, has played a significant role in establishing the principles of dialogue at home and abroad, “promoting tolerance regionally and internationally to help nations avoid devastating wars and instead turn to reason and peace”. – Okaz/SG
DHULUM – The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has urged the public to report any instances of racial discrimination directed at Saudi nationals or expatriates, and has called for studies into social problems that affect individual human rights such as favoritism, nepotism and tribalism.
“Everyone can help in preventing racism and promoting tolerance and moderation,” said Mufleh Al-Qahtani, the chairman of NSHR. “We need to work to cease categorizing people according to race, faith or color.”
King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Al-Qahtani said, has played a significant role in establishing the principles of dialogue at home and abroad, “promoting tolerance regionally and internationally to help nations avoid devastating wars and instead turn to reason and peace”. – Okaz/SG
Friday, March 19, 2010
Jailed for mistreating maid
SOON after Peck Choon Khim hired a maid in 2008 to help take care of her two adopted children, she started hitting the Myanmar national.
The abuse continued for the next five months and on Friday, Peck, 41, was sentenced to four months' jail.
A district court heard she had mistreated Ms Moe Thandar Lin, on 15 occasions from November 2008. Ms Lin only complained to her agent, after Peck slammed a kettle of hot water against her left arm on March 15 last year.
The agent called the police who found the list of all the incidents listed in the maid's diary.
At the last hearing in January, Peck's lawyer Lim Kim Hong asked the court to be lenient to her client as the maid had been defiant and disrespectful from the very start. The maid was also no help in taking care of the children, aged 18 months and three years.
All the more reason for Peck to get a new maid, said District Judge Ronald Gwee. He added: 'The correct thing to do is to terminate her employment but in this case, there were repeated occasions of abuse. Physical punishment is not allowed. It's a line no employer should cross.'
The maximum sentence is a jail term of three years and a $7,500 fine on each of the four charges
The abuse continued for the next five months and on Friday, Peck, 41, was sentenced to four months' jail.
A district court heard she had mistreated Ms Moe Thandar Lin, on 15 occasions from November 2008. Ms Lin only complained to her agent, after Peck slammed a kettle of hot water against her left arm on March 15 last year.
The agent called the police who found the list of all the incidents listed in the maid's diary.
At the last hearing in January, Peck's lawyer Lim Kim Hong asked the court to be lenient to her client as the maid had been defiant and disrespectful from the very start. The maid was also no help in taking care of the children, aged 18 months and three years.
All the more reason for Peck to get a new maid, said District Judge Ronald Gwee. He added: 'The correct thing to do is to terminate her employment but in this case, there were repeated occasions of abuse. Physical punishment is not allowed. It's a line no employer should cross.'
The maximum sentence is a jail term of three years and a $7,500 fine on each of the four charges
Lankan betrays trust Fear of ouster
KUWAIT CITY, March 17 : Police are looking for an unidentified Sri Lankan for betrayal of trust, reports Arrouiah daily.
According to security sources the man works for a well-known businessman and he was given KD 9,600 to deposit in the company bank account. The man is said to have disappeared with the money.
Fear of ouster: Two Asian women who jumped from the second floor of a balcony to avoid arrest have been admitted to a hospital with injuries, reports Al-Anba daily.
The incident happened in Messilah when an inspector from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor was checking the documents of employees working for establishments in the area.
It has been reported the victims are residence law violators and they tried to escape to avoid deportation from the country
According to security sources the man works for a well-known businessman and he was given KD 9,600 to deposit in the company bank account. The man is said to have disappeared with the money.
Fear of ouster: Two Asian women who jumped from the second floor of a balcony to avoid arrest have been admitted to a hospital with injuries, reports Al-Anba daily.
The incident happened in Messilah when an inspector from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor was checking the documents of employees working for establishments in the area.
It has been reported the victims are residence law violators and they tried to escape to avoid deportation from the country
Filipina abducted from bus stop, raped
Kuwait : Police have arrested two youths — a Kuwaiti and a bedoun — for kidnapping and raping an unidentified Filipino woman, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to a complaint filed by the victim at a police station, she was waiting for a public transport bus. The youths drove by and offered to drive her to her destination. However, when she refused, one of the youths reportedly forced her into the vehicle and took her to a lonely place in Fahaheel and raped her successively.
Investigations conducted by police led to the arrest of the Kuwaiti. He later led police to his partner.
The ‘rapists’ have been referred to the concerned authorities.
According to a complaint filed by the victim at a police station, she was waiting for a public transport bus. The youths drove by and offered to drive her to her destination. However, when she refused, one of the youths reportedly forced her into the vehicle and took her to a lonely place in Fahaheel and raped her successively.
Investigations conducted by police led to the arrest of the Kuwaiti. He later led police to his partner.
The ‘rapists’ have been referred to the concerned authorities.
Filipina abducted from bus stop, raped
Kuwait : Police have arrested two youths — a Kuwaiti and a bedoun — for kidnapping and raping an unidentified Filipino woman, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to a complaint filed by the victim at a police station, she was waiting for a public transport bus. The youths drove by and offered to drive her to her destination. However, when she refused, one of the youths reportedly forced her into the vehicle and took her to a lonely place in Fahaheel and raped her successively.
Investigations conducted by police led to the arrest of the Kuwaiti. He later led police to his partner.
The ‘rapists’ have been referred to the concerned authorities.
According to a complaint filed by the victim at a police station, she was waiting for a public transport bus. The youths drove by and offered to drive her to her destination. However, when she refused, one of the youths reportedly forced her into the vehicle and took her to a lonely place in Fahaheel and raped her successively.
Investigations conducted by police led to the arrest of the Kuwaiti. He later led police to his partner.
The ‘rapists’ have been referred to the concerned authorities.
Migrants Center Mired in Turf War
A support center for migrant workers being set up in Incheon is triggering a turf war, setting their rights advocacy group against a consortium of an employers' lobby and a union group, which was selected to run the center.
The state-run Human Resources Development Service (HRD Korea) recently selected the Incheon Employers Federation (IEF) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) to manage support centers for immigrant workers in Incheon and Daegu, both opening this year, until 2012.
The consortium will be given around 500-600 million won per year in return for their services as operator.
However, migrant workers' advocates are up in arms, arguing that the two organizations have nothing to do with the welfare of foreign workers.
Lee Young, executive secretary of the Joint Committee for Migrant Workers in Korea (JCMK), said he couldn't understand the selection, saying that the consortium has no experience for the job it's been given.
"Though there are local organizations dedicated to helping migrant workers, HRD Korea chose the consortium of an employers' association and the FKTU," he said. "It is against the basic reason for an immigrant worker support center. It is like having the fox guard the henhouse."
Lee added that an association of small- and medium-sized enterprises once opposed the idea of migrant worker support centers for using the employment insurance fund. "It doesn't make sense that now the employers' organization wants to operate one," he said. "The IEF should instead open a center for employers to educate them on how to work with migrant workers properly."
He pointed out that the FKTU is not particularly interested in migrant workers' labor rights. HRD Korea said they chose the consortium because they wanted the groups to cooperate on the issue of assisting immigrant workers. "We have not confirmed the selection of operators yet. We will summon them next week and check on their plans," an HRD Korea official said.
Currently, there are five such centers nationwide in Seoul, Uijeongbu, Ansan, Gimhae and Masan. HRD Korea will open three more this year in Incheon, Daegu and Cheonan.
The state-run Human Resources Development Service (HRD Korea) recently selected the Incheon Employers Federation (IEF) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) to manage support centers for immigrant workers in Incheon and Daegu, both opening this year, until 2012.
The consortium will be given around 500-600 million won per year in return for their services as operator.
However, migrant workers' advocates are up in arms, arguing that the two organizations have nothing to do with the welfare of foreign workers.
Lee Young, executive secretary of the Joint Committee for Migrant Workers in Korea (JCMK), said he couldn't understand the selection, saying that the consortium has no experience for the job it's been given.
"Though there are local organizations dedicated to helping migrant workers, HRD Korea chose the consortium of an employers' association and the FKTU," he said. "It is against the basic reason for an immigrant worker support center. It is like having the fox guard the henhouse."
Lee added that an association of small- and medium-sized enterprises once opposed the idea of migrant worker support centers for using the employment insurance fund. "It doesn't make sense that now the employers' organization wants to operate one," he said. "The IEF should instead open a center for employers to educate them on how to work with migrant workers properly."
He pointed out that the FKTU is not particularly interested in migrant workers' labor rights. HRD Korea said they chose the consortium because they wanted the groups to cooperate on the issue of assisting immigrant workers. "We have not confirmed the selection of operators yet. We will summon them next week and check on their plans," an HRD Korea official said.
Currently, there are five such centers nationwide in Seoul, Uijeongbu, Ansan, Gimhae and Masan. HRD Korea will open three more this year in Incheon, Daegu and Cheonan.
Think Tank Calls for Redefinition of Diversity in Migrant Policies
A parliamentary think tank called on policymakers Monday to revisit the concept of diversity for effective policy measures, saying the term is so narrowly defined in the current law that it mainly refers to migrant workers or spouses.
To better cope with a more diverse forthcoming society, the National Assembly Research Service (NARS) stated that most policymakers have a bird's-eye view of the issue, arguing that a lack of a comprehensive framework is responsible for overlapping measures and budget squandering.
According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, approximately 900,000 foreigners lived in Korea in 2008, accounting for 1.8 percent of the entire population. About half of them were migrant workers.
The Korean Women's Development Institute forecast that the ratio of foreigners to the entire population will reach 2.8 percent this year and 5 percent by 2050.
In a report titled ``Implementation of Diversity-Related Measures and Policy Recommendations,'' NARS recommended that the government should establish policy measures for multiculturalism.
``The existing law dealing with diversity focuses on policy measures for specific target groups, such as migrant spouses and foreign workers and the children of bi-racial families. The lack of a comprehensive scheme for diversity contributes to squandering the budget and overlapping policies,'' the report said.
Under the proposed scheme, the think tank put forth a general law that addresses the definition of diversity, the principles and requirements of supportive policies, and a ban on discrimination based on race.
Currently, eight ministries, including the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, and the Ministry of Gender Equality, as well as local governments are responsible for policy measures for migrant spouses and children of multicultural families.
Those ministries sponsor Korean language programs and a variety of cultural exposure programs such as festivals to help about one million foreign nationals and migrant spouses living in Korea.
NARS experts said that these one-off measures have been ineffective in making Koreans more aware of diversity, adding that raising the public's awareness should be the primary focus of future policies.
They called on policymakers to respect cultural differences, saying this concern should be addressed in law.
``Policymakers need to be aware that migrant workers or spouses are not subjects who should be assimilated into this country but human beings who have different cultural standards,'' the report said.
To better cope with a more diverse forthcoming society, the National Assembly Research Service (NARS) stated that most policymakers have a bird's-eye view of the issue, arguing that a lack of a comprehensive framework is responsible for overlapping measures and budget squandering.
According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, approximately 900,000 foreigners lived in Korea in 2008, accounting for 1.8 percent of the entire population. About half of them were migrant workers.
The Korean Women's Development Institute forecast that the ratio of foreigners to the entire population will reach 2.8 percent this year and 5 percent by 2050.
In a report titled ``Implementation of Diversity-Related Measures and Policy Recommendations,'' NARS recommended that the government should establish policy measures for multiculturalism.
``The existing law dealing with diversity focuses on policy measures for specific target groups, such as migrant spouses and foreign workers and the children of bi-racial families. The lack of a comprehensive scheme for diversity contributes to squandering the budget and overlapping policies,'' the report said.
Under the proposed scheme, the think tank put forth a general law that addresses the definition of diversity, the principles and requirements of supportive policies, and a ban on discrimination based on race.
Currently, eight ministries, including the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, and the Ministry of Gender Equality, as well as local governments are responsible for policy measures for migrant spouses and children of multicultural families.
Those ministries sponsor Korean language programs and a variety of cultural exposure programs such as festivals to help about one million foreign nationals and migrant spouses living in Korea.
NARS experts said that these one-off measures have been ineffective in making Koreans more aware of diversity, adding that raising the public's awareness should be the primary focus of future policies.
They called on policymakers to respect cultural differences, saying this concern should be addressed in law.
``Policymakers need to be aware that migrant workers or spouses are not subjects who should be assimilated into this country but human beings who have different cultural standards,'' the report said.
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