The Morning yesterday (13) reported that with the demand for foreign employment having risen exponentially due to the economic crisis, foreign employment agencies are overcharging those seeking employment abroad. These amounts are exorbitantly higher than the maximum charges listed on the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) website, and these job-seekers have raised concerns about this situation.
According to the SLBFE, even though agency rates may have increased due to inflation, making it necessary to change the rates shown on the SLBFE website to reflect the current US dollar (USD) exchange rates, unpermitted agency charges is an issue against which people can legally file complaints with the SLBFE.
It is a well-known fact that various irregularities such as bribery and fraud are prevalent in the foreign employment industry. Even though such irregularities have survived and evolved despite the authorities’ attempts to thwart them, the importance of foreign employment in the prevailing economic situation is such that Sri Lanka has to take immediate and more stringent actions to put an end to such irregularities. Tolerating or underestimating these issues is no longer an option, because the future of the country’s economy depends heavily on foreign revenue.
The foreign employment industry, through workers’ remittances, has been one of the main sources of foreign revenue and a major contributor to Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves. However, after a large number of foreign employees returned owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and also due to the Government’s controversial policy of controlling the fluctuation of the value of the Sri Lankan rupee against the USD, foreign remittances drastically declined during the past few months, and it would not be wrong to say that the industry has only just begun to recover.
In this context, the foreign employment industry is even more important to Sri Lanka than before, and stringent action should be taken to protect the industry from corrupt agencies and practices.
One of the necessary steps is taking legal action. The authorities should go beyond merely issuing permits to agencies; they should monitor how agencies operate, especially when it comes to adhering to the rules and regulations set by the SLBFE, and the violation of those rules and regulations should be grounds for strict legal action. At the same time, the prevention of irregularities should always be prioritised. In this regard, the authorities should raise awareness among foreign employment seekers, and perhaps improve the existing complaint mechanisms available at the SLBFE.
At the same time, more steps need to be taken to promote and support foreign employment, as it can help Sri Lanka resolve the issues of unemployment in the country and the foreign reserves crisis. Even though a lawful or fair increase in agency charges is understandable, at a time when the foreign employment industry requires more support than it did before, the authorities should look for ways to alleviate the burden of those charges on job-seekers. This is high time to prioritise the generation of foreign exchange through increased foreign employment, at least over the income that the Government rakes in through various levies that increase the amount job-seekers are required to pay. Such support is in fact a long-term investment, and in this case, a necessary investment.
Even though the authorities have already taken measures to continue the uninterrupted issuance of passports despite the increasing demand, that is merely one part of their role in supporting the foreign employment industry. Irregularities by agencies, intermediaries, and co-ordinators based in foreign countries, and also various other parties involved in this industry, need to be dealt with promptly, in order to derive the maximum benefit from the foreign employment opportunities available to our citizens.
Raising public awareness regarding the types of irregularities they may fall victim to during the process of finding foreign employment opportunities is also a necessary step. Ultimately, workers abroad contribute a considerable share to the economy, and it is thus necessary to protect and sustain this valuable resource.Sky high prices to fly for work
14 Jun 2022
Sky high prices to fly for work
14 Jun 2022
The Morning yesterday (13) reported that with the demand for foreign employment having risen exponentially due to the economic crisis, foreign employment agencies are overcharging those seeking employment abroad. These amounts are exorbitantly higher than the maximum charges listed on the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) website, and these job-seekers have raised concerns about this situation.
According to the SLBFE, even though agency rates may have increased due to inflation, making it necessary to change the rates shown on the SLBFE website to reflect the current US dollar (USD) exchange rates, unpermitted agency charges is an issue against which people can legally file complaints with the SLBFE.
It is a well-known fact that various irregularities such as bribery and fraud are prevalent in the foreign employment industry. Even though such irregularities have survived and evolved despite the authorities’ attempts to thwart them, the importance of foreign employment in the prevailing economic situation is such that Sri Lanka has to take immediate and more stringent actions to put an end to such irregularities. Tolerating or underestimating these issues is no longer an option, because the future of the country’s economy depends heavily on foreign revenue.
The foreign employment industry, through workers’ remittances, has been one of the main sources of foreign revenue and a major contributor to Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves. However, after a large number of foreign employees returned owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and also due to the Government’s controversial policy of controlling the fluctuation of the value of the Sri Lankan rupee against the USD, foreign remittances drastically declined during the past few months, and it would not be wrong to say that the industry has only just begun to recover.
In this context, the foreign employment industry is even more important to Sri Lanka than before, and stringent action should be taken to protect the industry from corrupt agencies and practices.
One of the necessary steps is taking legal action. The authorities should go beyond merely issuing permits to agencies; they should monitor how agencies operate, especially when it comes to adhering to the rules and regulations set by the SLBFE, and the violation of those rules and regulations should be grounds for strict legal action. At the same time, the prevention of irregularities should always be prioritised. In this regard, the authorities should raise awareness among foreign employment seekers, and perhaps improve the existing complaint mechanisms available at the SLBFE.
At the same time, more steps need to be taken to promote and support foreign employment, as it can help Sri Lanka resolve the issues of unemployment in the country and the foreign reserves crisis. Even though a lawful or fair increase in agency charges is understandable, at a time when the foreign employment industry requires more support than it did before, the authorities should look for ways to alleviate the burden of those charges on job-seekers. This is high time to prioritise the generation of foreign exchange through increased foreign employment, at least over the income that the Government rakes in through various levies that increase the amount job-seekers are required to pay. Such support is in fact a long-term investment, and in this case, a necessary investment.
Even though the authorities have already taken measures to continue the uninterrupted issuance of passports despite the increasing demand, that is merely one part of their role in supporting the foreign employment industry. Irregularities by agencies, intermediaries, and co-ordinators based in foreign countries, and also various other parties involved in this industry, need to be dealt with promptly, in order to derive the maximum benefit from the foreign employment opportunities available to our citizens.
Raising public awareness regarding the types of irregularities they may fall victim to during the process of finding foreign employment opportunities is also a necessary step. Ultimately, workers abroad contribute a considerable share to the economy, and it is thus necessary to protect and sustain this valuable resource.Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!