Migrant labour agents urge Govt. to consider their proposals
View(s):The Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies in Sri Lanka (ALFEA) has urged the government to consider its proposals to revive the foreign employment sector.
In a statement it said that the association has submitted short term and long term proposals to the SL Foreign Employment Bureau and the subject minister, adding that such proposals require the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. It did not give details about the proposals.
“If the government intervenes in this matter, we would like to state that we will be committed to obtaining a large amount of foreign exchange during the year, by recreating the foreign employment sector and providing a secure migration service,” the statement said.
ALFEA said its financial contribution to the country is far greater than the US$8 billion in workers remittances since association members provide an additional $3 billion per year in services charges which is not taken into account when references are made about the contributions of migrant worker remittances.
During the 30-year conflict, the foreign employment sector was the main lifeline of the economy. There are currency 1.7 million overseas Sri Lankan workers and five million dependents. At least 90 per cent of those working abroad were send by ALFEA members.
“Our business has been completely stalled due to COVID-19. We have identified that the main reason for the depreciation of the rupee is the decrease in labour and labour services’ remittances,” the statement said, adding: “We recognise that our sector is the only sector that can recover foreign exchange without any investment in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.”