Foreign jobs: Lanka fails to seize opportunities for want of planning

Out of 425 who applied only 3 passed language proficiency test

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has found fault with the Foreign Employment Ministry, the Foreign Employment Bureau and other relevant institutions for failing to take advantage of the high demand for skilled workers for overseas jobs.

The COPA recently directed the Foreign Employment Ministry to prepare an efficient programme to send trained personnel for overseas jobs in consultation with other institutions, including vocational training institutes.

Instructions were issued at a meeting held in parliament on 21 Oct., under the chairmanship of MP Kabir Hashim to examine the performance of audit report on the evaluation of the role to be played for the quality development of the foreign employment sector.

Chairman Hashim said that the officials of institutions would be called before COPA again in the future.

The chairman of the Committee pointed out that though there was a huge demand for skilled workers for overseas employment, the country couldn’t take advantage of the situation for want of proper coordination among relevant institutions.

The committee paid attention to the fact that a national migrant labour policy had remained unimplemented. Thus, the committee emphasised that these policies should be updated periodically. Although the officials said that the work had commenced, it appeared that there was a delay and the Committee pointed out the need to operate with a specific plan and purpose as the basic arrangement related to sending foreign workers are in these policies.

According to an agreement between the United States of America and the Sri Lankan government in 2016, although there is space for qualified nurses in the country, it was revealed that out of a group of 425 nurses who had applied, only three nurses passed the relevant language proficiency test.

Furthermore, according to the agreements between the governments of countries like Japan, Korea and Israel, although there is scope for sending trained workers, it was revealed that the number of trained workers going abroad from this country isat a low ebb due to the reduction in the number of people with language proficiency and professional skills suitable for those respective countries. The Committee pointed out at length that these institutions including the Foreign Employment Bureau should cater to these open job opportunities through the relevant ambassadorial relations and to train workers with professional skills.

At a time when the country is in an economic crisis, the Committee pointed out at length the need to identify and promote these foreign employment sectors as a source of foreign exchange earnings. For that, the committee emphasised the need for the research department within the Foreign Employment Bureau to operate more efficiently.

State Ministers (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Diana Gamage Members of Parliament Tissa Attanayake, Niroshan Perera, (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, J. C. Alawathuwala, Isuru Dodangoda, (Prof.) Charitha Herath, Wasantha Yapabandara and Weerasumana Weerasinghe were present at this Committee meeting. Mr. Ananda Wimalaweera, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment and Mr. Mahendra Kumarasinghe, Chairman of the Foreign Employment Bureau were also present.