Lankans to receive more jobs in Saudi says Manusha

Saudi Arabia has agreed in principle to recruit more Sri Lankans for the construction and health sectors and to increase the minimum wage of domestic workers, Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry said.

As per the Ministry, the assurance was extended during an official bilateral discussion held between Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara and Saudi Arabia Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi.

Minister Al-Rajhi proposed the appointment of two bilateral committees for recruitments for the construction and health sectors and the appointment of a consultative committee to table recommendations within 30 days to look into irregularities in the recruitment of domestic workers.The Foreign Employment Ministry noted that a number of job opportunities in the construction sector in Saudi, that were previously only open to the Philippines and Bangladesh, will be opened to Sri Lankan skilled workers.

A decision was also reached to reconsider the recruitment fees and costs related to domestic work, and to close around 400 employment agencies that engaged in employee irregularities.

Minister Al-Rajhi has also agreed to further increase the minimum wage currently paid for Sri Lankan employees, whilst recommendations in this regard will be tabled within 30 days.

It was also agreed to direct attention towards sectors that have a majority of Sri Lankan workers in Saudi and to offer service contracts that are only in Arabic and English.

The two parties also agreed to look into issues faced by domestic workers and to take necessary measures within 30 days.