SLBFE, Red Cross Society and The Finance Co. join hands for Rataviru Rekawarana Sewa program

Foreign employment remains a sought after source of income for a majority of Sri Lankans and currently, a one-fourth of the population are migrant workers. Their contribution to Sri Lanka’s economy is significant – foreign employment remittances amount to approximately US$ 6 billion annually.  

The labour migrant sector remittances exceed the income received from traditional export sectors such as tea, coconut, rubber, gems and garments. Sri Lankans migrate abroad for employment to realise their dreams for a better future for themselves and their loved ones but not everybody succeeds.

The main reason for unrealised dreams and hopes is that their earnings are not linked to essential requisites of better living such as improved shelter and a wealth base to continue an income stream after they return. The Rataviru Rakawarana Seva program is the vision of the Government of Sri Lanka, to better the lives of our ‘rataviruwo’.

A principal component of the vision aims to encourage migrant workers to benefit from a livelihood oriented earnings scheme. This program allows the migrant workers to commence remitting their earnings to finance livelihood means which will generate income streams back home.

The first finance company in Sri Lanka, namely The Finance Company, has come forward to catalyse additional income streams to migrant workers by providing financial support to procure livelihood assets even before departure, thereby committing their remittances to finance livelihood assets.  

For instance, the procurement of a sewing machine before one leaves the shores for employment will be financed by part of the remittance of his earnings abroad. The sewing machine or some such asset (may be a three wheeled taxi) will generate income back at home to support his family.

In order to accomplish the Government’s vision, an alliance of three leading organisations, namely the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, The Finance Company and the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, has been formed.  

The three areas strengthened by this synergy are firstly the re-integration of the migrant workers as responsible people of society, secondly, the support for the continuation of livelihoods to generate income to support the family and thirdly, strengthening family links and coming to their assistance in case of catastrophe and providing first aid training to migrant workers before their departure. Skills in first aid will be a value addition to their job and the service they provided to their employers.

Established in 1985, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment is the regulatory body that provides welfare and support services to migrant workers and their families. This organisation is the primary role player in the country to promote employment opportunities for Sri Lankans seeking employment overseas.

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society  is part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and perhaps the most well known of all humanitarian organisations in the world. The network of branches and units in the country with over a million volunteers is able to form effective links with families of the migrant workers.

The Finance Company is the pioneer financial organisation which is the first finance company to be registered in the country with over seven decades of trusted business experience. The company will play the essential role in presenting a range of financial solutions tailor-made to uplift the livelihood of the migrant worker segment and their dependants even before their departure. The company with its 60 branches, pro- active in the field is able take the program to the doorstep of the migrant worker.

The Memorandum of Understanding between these three parties was signed at Temple Trees on 10 June 10 2013, presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, ushering a new chapter for the protection, welfare and prosperity of migrant workers and their families in Sri Lanka.