The revelation that Sri Lankans are among those forcibly detained at a place known as the “Cyber Slave Camp” near the Thailand-Myanmar border in Myanmar, is concerning. It matters not how one looks at it. It is a matter of the lives of around 50 Sri Lankans as per uncorroborated reports, an alarming development relating to human trafficking to which Sri Lankans have been subjected to systematically. And, it is a diplomatic issue as Thai nationals, Chinese nationals and Sri Lankans are involved in the running of this racket.
Sri Lanka is in for tough negotiations and decisions. The country’s priority is to get the detained Sri Lankans released and repatriated. That is the obvious, immediate response, to which the authorities have paid attention. While we reiterate the authorities’ responsibility in this case, this is not a type of incident where we can point the finger at the authorities.
As per the statements of those who escaped from the said camp and returned to the country and also other reports, many, if not all, Sri Lankans detained in the said camp, had gone there on tourist/visit visas, although their true intention was to find employment in Thailand. For economic-crisis-stricken Sri Lankans, such a lie may seem like a minor offence when compared with the idea of a better life in a foreign country.
However, this Myanmar camp incident is a good lesson that shows that lying to the authorities is actually the easiest part. The risks that entail a foreign trip intended for employment, but is not registered, monitored, or protected by any foreign employment authority, can be of any magnitude or nature. We cannot even assume some of the risks that we have to face, because we ourselves are not informed of the exact nature of our journey. This is the biggest lesson that aspiring migrant workers should learn.
Although not similar in nature and gravity, similar experiences were reported from many who left the country for the Middle East, seeking employment during the past year (2022). There were many who left on visit/tourist visas with high hopes that they would be able to find employment, but eventually ended up on the streets, or having to do arduous and underpaid jobs. This trend keeps happening means that those lessons from the Middle East targeted labour migration, were not learnt.
This is high time to acknowledge that illegal migration is not just a matter of a rough boat ride, fake documents, or a few days of hard work or starvation. It poses various risks including human trafficking, exploitation, vulnerability to criminal activities, health risks, and in the long-term, being blacklisted from overseas travel which can affect one for their entire lifetime or for years. At higher levels, illegal migration can also strain social services, impact economies, and contribute to political tensions in both origin and destination countries.
The lack of discussion on skilled migration is a concerning element of this discussion. Many seem to think that owing to the lack of educational qualifications or experience, migrating to a developed country, even to “sweep the road” as they say, is their only way out of the crisis-hit Sri Lanka. But, that is far from the truth, because there are many short- and medium-term vocational training opportunities available for lower fees, and for people of different skills and requirements. There are also services that provide formal qualifications for those with experience based skills. Many of these require only Ordinary Level qualifications, and they are available islandwide. Therefore, in actuality, placing one’s life at risk because they feel that they are not qualified to get a good foreign job legally is a concerning ill-informed move. Skilled migration addresses labour market gaps, fosters innovation, and contributes to economic growth. This is something that the authorities should work on.
If Sri Lanka did not understand and take seriously the intricate nature of and the factors involving the Myanmar camp incident, sooner or later, the country will again find itself in a similar situation. Before that, the people should be taught in a manner that they understand the magnitude of the risks of illegal migration. That will only be effective if they were shown an alternative, and that is where information about vocational training and legitimate jobs should be conveyed to the people.