UCA News
Contribute

Caritas provides vital help for Sri Lankan migrants

Education, awareness of law, and welfare and safety programs for workers going abroad are priorities
Caritas provides vital help for Sri Lankan migrants

Caritas Colombo educating small groups on safe labor migration. They have partnered with the Sri Lankan government to run welfare programs for workers going abroad (Photo by Caritas Colombo)

Published: June 07, 2017 04:38 AM GMT
Updated: June 07, 2017 10:05 AM GMT

Evon Perera, was in a traffic accident in Lebanon where she had been working as a housemaid since 2015. "While I was walking alone on the road, I met with an accident and when I opened my eyes I realized my leg was broken," she said.

"Once I was repatriated I received compensation the paid for my treatment because I was registered at the bureau," said Perera, referring to Sri Lanka's Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

The bureau is the main administrative body regulating labor migration. It offers a free insurance scheme, which is one of the reasons why Caritas Sri Lanka promotes registration at SLBFE as a must for every migrant. Another is how when registering with SLBFE, a migrant can undergo training to familiarize themselves with the laws, customs and language of their destination countries and how to face unexpected troubles.

Beeta Kumari Fernando, an aspirant migrant from Pallansena, Negombo, is getting ready to migrate to Saudi Arabia as a housemaid and sought out help from Caritas.  

"I was preparing to migrate and once I heard of Caritas' work, I met an officer and he guided me to a registered agency and asked me to follow the SLBFE training and get registered," she said.

But unfortunately many migrants fail to register.  

L.M. Keerthi Muthukumarana, deputy general manager of a legal unit in SLBFE, said: "We learned that nearly 20,000 Sri Lankans migrated without registration and 8,000 of them are in problematic situations."

At the beginning of this year, Thalatha Athukorala, foreign employment minister, said the government had no responsibility for migrants who do not register.

 

Caritas-Seth Sarana Colombo has established information boards to educate general public about safe labor migration. This board is placed on the premises of St. Sebastian's Church, Sea Street, Negombo. (ucanews.com photo)

 

Dinusha Gangani migrated to Qatar as a housemaid to earn enough money to educate her six-year-old daughter. However, after two years, she returned to Sri Lanka with painful arthritis caused by overwork.

"I was not aware of the bureau and my recruitment agency did not tell me about it, if I had registered I would have received compensation," said Gangani. She is now helping in her mother's small business.

But once they are registered and on the database, Sri Lankan embassies around the world have easy access to information in the case of emergency or to assist the migrants upon repatriation. "We have various welfare funds available," Muthukumarana added.

The SLBFE received 8,366 complaints from migrants overseas in 2015, about 500 per month on average.

 

Working for the best interests of migrants

"Caritas works for the well-being of aspirant migrants, in-service migrants, family members and migrant returnees," said Prasad Fernando, divisional coordinator of Caritas.

Caritas Colombo uses leaflets, posters and street drama to educate people about safe labor migration. It also conducts awareness sessions in villages and assists in migrants in related matters.

"From a survey, we found that most of the family members of migrants hesitate to lodge a complaint with SLBFE, afraid of the legal system and deterred by the cost of traveling to Colombo," said Fernando.

Caritas now pays for travel expenses to help their clients lodge a complaint. They then update their client about the progress of their case as they have been given special permission by SLBFE to work with them.

 

Caritas Colombo educates villagers about safe migration and tells them how to access government welfare programs for their overseas workers who numbered 1.7 million in 2016. (ucanews.com photo)

 

For those migrants who return from abroad after an awful experience, Caritas is likewise there to help.

Shayama Sudharshani, a mother of a 14-year-old from Negombo, migrated to Saudi Arabia as a housemaid. While she was working, she was severely beaten and, due to the attack, gradually lost her sight.

After she came home she underwent surgery. Caritas helped the family get the hospital treatment paid for but, instead of recovering, she caught a bacterial infection and died.

Her family requested compensation but the insurance company rejected the request as the client died two months after her repatriation. Caritas and Seth Sarana, the social service arm of the Colombo Archdiocese, took the case to the legal aid commission. Due to their intervention, the insurance company eventually sent a cheque to the family via the SLBFE.

Caritas Colombo has also launched a psychosocial support program to support family members and returnees whenever they are unable to cope with their situation.

"Caritas is doing an amazing service for the well-being of migrants and their families. When a mother migrates, there is a vacuum in the family and it affects the growth of children. Unless we address this, there will be a social cost," said Kumara Perera, a pastor and activist from Gampaha district.

Janet Princy from Negombo was in Abu Dabi in United Arab Emerites from 1991–2001. She received her promised salary but still lives in a half-built house. Caritas Colombo combats situations like this by guiding people how to manage foreign revenue.

Nearly 1.7 million migrants have become the main source of foreign revenue for Sri Lanka. According to the country's central bank, their earnings exceeded US$7.5 billion in 2016.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia