Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara stated today (06) that the Government will not alter its policies regarding the mandatory 28-day training for individuals departing for foreign employment as domestic workers. He emphasized that this training is designed to enhance job security and increase salaries.
The Minister expressed these views while attending the inauguration of the training center and office of Sjong World, which offers job training programs focused on the Korean agriculture sector and provides training for those pursuing domestic worker positions abroad.
Minister Nanayakkara emphasized that domestic workers who departed without prior training often face various challenges and earn lower salaries compared to their counterparts from other countries. He also pointed out that some foreign employment agencies are not pleased with the mandatory training requirement, as their primary focus is on maximizing profits.
He stated, “There was a time when foreign employment agencies sent Sri Lankans abroad without any training solely for profit. However, we have now made the decision not to send anyone without proper training. While some agencies may not be satisfied with this, we will not alter this decision under any circumstances.”
The Minister also underscored the pivotal role played by migrant workers in helping the country overcome economic crises and contributing to the improvement of the nation’s foreign reserves. “Since assuming the position of Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment in May of last year, we have secured more than $7 billion in foreign remittances. To put this into perspective, we would only receive around $3 billion from the IMF. Therefore, these remittances are of utmost importance to the country. No other sector comes close to matching this contribution. Thanks to our migrant workers, we have uninterrupted access to essential resources such as fuel, electricity, and medicine. We should express our gratitude for their unwavering efforts,” he noted.
