1. Prof. P.V.B. Karunatilaka Chairman Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment ON-SITE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SRI LANKAN OVERSEAS WORKERS

2. Types of Labour Migration Authorized Migration Unauthorized Migration

3. Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Countries

4. No. of Sri Lankan workers in GCC countries Country Male Female Total Saudi Arabia95,823164,105259,928 Kuwait24,129114,426138,555 UAE46,69869,771116,469 Qatar65,33315,16380,496 Oman5,3929,26514,657 Bahrain3,89711,55715,454 Total241,272384,287625,559

5. Gender wise Comparison of contract migratory workers (Year 2004)

6. Ministry of Labour Relations & Foreign Employment of Sri Lanka Involved in policy development and Implementation on labour related issues Coordinates with all institutions involving migration Oversees functions of The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE)

7. About SLBFE…  promotes employment for Sri Lankans in foreign countries  regulates all operations of licenced foreign employment agents for better services  ensuring welfare and well-being of Sri Lankans employed abroad including their families  maintains a database on workers overseas A government incorporated body established in 1985.

8. Common Problems faced by overseas contract workers Breach of Contract Harassments Non Payment of Salaries Over-keeping the contract period Legal Issues & Imprisonment Death or Serious Illness Illegal Cross-Border Migration

9. On-Site Support Services Overseas missions, Conciliation and mediation over disputes between Sri Lankan workers and their Sponsors Provide welfare assistance to Sri Lankan contract workers which includes, medical and hospital services repatriation of distressed Sri Lankan workers extending legal services to victimized contract workers custodial services at the Safe Houses in missions

10. On-Site Support Services Contd…. Overseas Missions, Provide consular services such as issuing and renewal of passports, extending of visas. Organising cultural and recreational events for Sri Lankans. Conduct mobile services in certain GCC countries. Initiating programmes for Sri Lankan Diaspora to help overseas contract workers.

11. On-Site Support Services Contd…. On-line web based information system for renewal of registration of overseas contract workers. Video conferencing facility for overseas contract workers.

12. Backup services Scholarships and school equipment to children of overseas contract workers Scholarships and school equipment to children of overseas contract workers Compensation of Insurance Compensation of Insurance Host-country based insurance cover Host-country based insurance cover loans for prospective overseas contract workers loans for prospective overseas contract workers Special welfare centre for contract workers returning in distress Special welfare centre for contract workers returning in distress

13. CountryExpenditure (US $) Saudi Arabia488,260.86 Kuwait478,308.09 U.A.E229,426.22 Oman78,258.98 Qatar60,626.60 Allocation for Labour Sections in foreign missions for Support Services in 2004