Govt. to send public sector workers for foreign jobs

• State workers keen on overseas job opportunities can register via SLBFE website

In a bid to boost foreign exchange inflows, the Government has decided to send public sector workers abroad.

“The Public Administration Ministry will issue a circular on this soon,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena told journalists at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.

The immediate opportunities are for the health sector workers particularly for nurses.

“There are some issues that needs to be looked into such as seniority. The new regulations will be issued shortly, as the Health Ministry is working on it,” Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said.

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has also informed State workers who wish to seek overseas jobs to register with the Bureau website.

He said a program has been introduced to generate foreign exchange with the intervention of the Ministry, adding that accordingly State employees will be granted the opportunity to leave for employment overseas.

Minister Nanayakkara engaged in discussions on Monday with officials of foreign employment agencies.

He said discussions will be held with the Ministry of Public Administration pertaining to issuing a circular to allow state employees to seek employment opportunities overseas without any hindrances to respective pensions and seniority.

The Minister added that foreign employment agencies will play a pivotal role in seeking employment opportunities for State sector employees.