Amnesty granted for Sri Lankan migrant workers in Lebanon

The Sri Lankan Government’s bilateral efforts to regularise nearly 7,000 undocumented migrant workers in Lebanon commenced recently. 

After near year-long negotiations with the Lebanese Government, a special resolution was passed by the host country last February to repatriate all undocumented Sri Lankan workers. 

Under this scheme, undocumented workers who are above the age of 60 and have stayed beyond 15 years have been granted total amnesty without any charges. The others have been granted repatriation with 50% payment of their overstay fines. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beirut extended its appreciation for the assistance granted by relevant agencies both in Lebanon and Sri Lanka.

According to the General Security of Lebanon 90% of the undocumented Sri Lankan origin migrant workers are female domestic workers. Considering the new regulations the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beirut is presently working towards registering all Sri Lankan migrant workers in that country. Since September 2015 over 400 Sri Lankan migrant workers have registered their presence in Lebanon at the embassy.

The General Security of Lebanon has already given approval for 55 Sri Lankan persons with exit permits. Accordingly, 39 Sri Lankans have been repatriated in July 2017 up to now. The embassy staff facilitated repatriation at the airport.