No ban on Sri Lankan housemaids - Ranawaka

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) denied reports that Saudi authorities have planned to impose a ban on recruiting housemaids from Sri Lanka. Chairman SLBFE, Kingsley Ranawaka emphasized that it is a rumour being spread by certain employment agencies and agents overseas.
Saudi media and arabnews.com website reported last week that Saudi Arabia is considering the banning of housemaids from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam due their inability to adjust to Saudi culture and tradition. “There is no proper selection process of housemaids to suit this market, nor are they given orientation before they leave their countries,” the website quoted.
According to Central Bank statistics, during the first eleven months of 2009, worker remittances have increased by 14.2 per cent to US dollars 3,035 million.
Responding further Ranawaka said, “Sri Lankan workers awaiting free exit from KSA are now housed in shelters and are issued free exit permits. Many of them have already returned in batches.” He did not confirm the figures, citing that these domestic aides do not visit the Bureau on arrival. “Right now there are about 250 workers in KSA shelters.”
Last year, nearly 243, 000 workers registered with the SLBFE, left for employment overseas. The SLBFE is now in the process of preparing a final report that analyses revenue and expenditure of workers, especially in the Middle Eastern.
Meanwhile SLBFE has taken an initiative to launch a ‘Reintegration’ programme for migrant workers returning to Sri Lanka. Ranawaka said, “The registration will start next week. It is a programme to encourage migrant workers invest their earnings in Sri Lanka. They will be guided and supported to start self-employment and business ventures of their interest.
“We have not collected data of migrant workers in the past. Migrant workers are totally clueless of what to do next after they return. Furthermore, we are also unaware of their return. This registration would keep them on track. Registration will commence at SLBFE and other centres island wide.’’