Two guidebooks published for Sri Lankan migrant workers

(May 05, 2010) Caritas Sri Lanka presented two guidebooks for migrant domestic workers with phrases in Tamil, Sinhalese, English and Arabic and other relevant information as well as a docudrama by filmmaker Bertram Nihal on domestic workers. The launching was held on Tuesday before an audience that included clergymen and members of the laity.
Caritas Sri Lanka Director F. George Sigamoney used the occasion to slam the Sri Lankan government for its lack of interest in the plight of migrant workers. If we want to change this difficult situation, he said, the government must pay more attention to the problem and adopt laws that can protect the workers.
Sri Lankan workers have emigrated to escape poverty or civil war. About 1.5 million of them live abroad, 93 per cent in the Middle East, this according to Caritas. By and large, they are forced to work in often appalling conditions, deprived of almost all rights, required to work without adequate periods of rest, underfed, segregated, with the risk that they might not even be paid, suffering from physical and psychological stress as well as sexual abuse. However, their remittances are a major source of foreign currency for the country. For this reason, the government should pay more attention to their plight.Fr Sigamoney, who led the event, said that Caritas is involved in a tireless job helping migrants.