Age limit to be increased

25 January 2011 06:20 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

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The government today decided to increase the age limit of females seeking foreign employment to 21 from 18, sources said.

The Cabinet gave its approval to a memorandum submitted by Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne in the absence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently abroad.

Foreign employment is one of the major foreign exchange earners of the country. Currently, there are over one million Sri Lankan expatriate workers, and a bulk of them works in the Middle East countries as housemaids. By 2009, they constituted 24 percent of the country’s entire labour force. It is a billion dollar industry for Sri Lanka according to latest statistics. (Kelum Bandara)

Comments - 9

Calistus Jayatilleke Wednesday, 26 January 2011 02:40 AM

What a joke: there are "experts" in this country who can provide a passport with any age mentioned on it.

23 13

Cobra Wednesday, 26 January 2011 02:42 AM

I suppose it really doesn't matter if it is 18 or 21 years. What matters is the mechanism the state puts in to safe guard the maids who go for employment to the ME. Although the govt. admits that the forex earned and remitted here is its life line, sweet nothing is done to safe guard the people who make this possible!

3 10

spark Wednesday, 26 January 2011 02:48 AM

Another bogus initiative by the state. Where is the guarantee of the state, by initiating this law, that housemaids aged 21 years or more are safe from the issues plaguing these migrant workers?

6 10

mohamed asfar Wednesday, 26 January 2011 04:54 AM

18 or 21. what is the big difference ? if we can vote at 18 why not foreign employment ?

1 0

Razor Blade Wednesday, 26 January 2011 06:44 AM

Make sure they know the basic stuff for survival, even 21 is useless if they don't .

0 5

Patriot Wednesday, 26 January 2011 06:59 AM

Stupid rules of this government. As a developing country Sri Lanka should encourage it's citizens to work as much as they can and help the country rebuild. If a person goes abroad it is a way of earning foreign currency. My opinion is that work until u die.

6 1

xlntgson Wednesday, 26 January 2011 10:43 AM

A ban on the export of women was expected, otherwise they should allow them to go at eighteen, most of the girls come home only for the marriage! if they go at 21, can they marry at 22? The average marriageable age for brides in Sri Lanka is not thirty, I suppose!

1 1

The Judge Wednesday, 26 January 2011 01:52 PM

SENDING WOMEN TO GATHER DOLLARS , particularly fro the ARAB countries. STOP THIS EXPORT OF WOMEN, specially to the Middle East.

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Dr Ray Wednesday, 26 January 2011 01:55 PM

Being young or the age is NOT the barrier.
All men and women should be tought and well trained on survival and the vises, especially in the middle eastern countries.House maids should be trained and tought in raising early alarm and an easier access to the Employment Departmant of the Sri Lankan Embassies.

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