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Rajapakse urges protection for Gulf migrant workers, “profitable” but humiliated
by Melani Manel Perera
In his first visit to the region the president asks local authorities to guarantee rights and social assistance to the thousands of Sri Lankan immigrant workers. Kuwait alone hosts 135 thousand most of whom are women; women represent 80% of the migrating working force of former Ceylon and the second voice in foreign representation. But they continue to be victims of abuse and discrimination.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Attempts to attract greater foreign investment and strengthen the prostrated tourist industry pushed Sri Lanka’s president, Mahinda Rajapakse, to carry out his first visit to the Gulf. The trip, May 18 – 23 was also however an opportunity to discuss the protection of the rights of the thousands of migrant workers from former Ceylon present in the country.
Goverment sources report that, “during a long meeting with Sri Lankan migrant workers the President stated that the government will be more concerned of their effort to develop the nation ” During a separate meeting with the Premier of Kuwait , Rajapakse discussed prospects of offering better welfare services to the Sri Lankan workers and utilizing their Human Resources more effectively with the view of remunerating them appropriately”.
More than 135,000 Sri Lankans are currently working in Kuwait. Nearly 55,000 – 65,000 Sri Lankans are working in Jordan and 45,000 of which are women. And majority of the women are housemaids. According to the World Migration Report on migration relevant to 2005, women amount to over 80% of Sri Lanka’s migrating workforce. Many emigrate to the Middle East to work as domestic staff and their earnings now constitute the second highest value in foreign trade . In 1999, Sri Lanka’s female migrants alone contributed to 62% of the one billion dollars returns.
Yet the women’s contribution to the economy growth of the country could be of even greater significance, if they were not underpaid or denied access to loans to start their own businesses