COVID-19 has limited economic and travel opportunities of Sri Lankan migrants
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lankan returnees and migrant workers have been stranded, forced to face major socio-economic challenges. Circular migration characterises Sri Lankan labour markets, but the current pandemic has limited economic and travel opportunities for returnees and migrants temporarily stuck at home or abroad.
Colombo (Asia News) – Hundreds of Sri Lankan migrants, Catholic and non-Catholic, have been stranded in various countries. Among them, those in Middle Eastern countries are facing huge problems due to the lack of food, shelter, clothing, etc., as they wait to go home.
“Unless the Sri Lanka government raises awareness about the need for social cohesion, the pandemic could have a negative impact on the people who live thanks to foreign remittances, and prevent them from taking part in socio-economic activities,” said a Sri Lankan migrant employee in Dubai.
Francis Solomantine (pictured) is a Catholic and an employee. He works as a programme coordinator at the Middle East Centre for Training and Development in Dubai.
Speaking to AsiaNews, he said that the Sri Lankan government and other interested authorities should pay more attention to migrant workers as they are one of the main sources of the country's foreign revenues.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lankan returnees and migrant workers stranded in destination countries face major socio-economic challenges.
Although circular migration is a predominant feature of Sri Lankan labour migration, the ongoing pandemic has reduced returning migrants’ travel opportunities, hence their employment opportunities at home and abroad.
Unfortunately, returnees face social stigma due to the link to recently reported cases of COVID-19. Poor awareness and social cohesion have generated anxiety in Sri Lanka that returnees could cause a spike in the disease beyond the current level.
Sri Lankans have become more anxious following a recent statement from the Health Ministry indicating that nearly 50,000 Sri Lankans are waiting to come home, especially from the Gulf region.
According to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), more than 2,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers from 16 countries have been affected by COVID-19 and 52 have died.
Labour migration from Sri Lanka is the country's main source of foreign currency and contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. Since the 1970s, the government has taken measures to ensure the protection and promotion of migrant workers.
Important legislation and policies have been adopted to manage migration, laws like the Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Act 1985 (plus amendments in 1994/2009), the 2008 National Labour Migration Policy, and a 2015 Sub-policy and National Plan on Return and Reintegration.
The Sri Lankan government continues to promote safe migration by encouraging potential migrants to register with the SLBFE for welfare benefits during the migration cycle, which includes pre-departure, in service, return and reintegration stages.
In 2014, under the leadership of the former Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister, returning migrants and their families set up an association called Rataviruvo (Migrant Worker Hero) to acknowledge the service they rendered to the growth of the country’s economy.
Since then, they have been honoured at the national convention organised by the migrants’ association on 18 December, International Migration Day. However, for various reasons, the association has become inactive.
As returnees find themselves in a situation of exclusion, it is very important to empower the marginalised and hear their voice.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Sri Lankan foreign missions received complaints from registered and unregistered migrants. For humanitarian reasons, the missions together with the communities of the Sri Lankan diaspora offered assistance and support to those in emergency situations.
However, with COVID-19, complaints have appeared on social media about the inefficiency and biases of foreign mission personnel during the repatriation process compared to the courage and vital role played by Sri Lankan foreign service officials in helping Sri Lankan migrants during the Gulf War.
According to the Health Ministry, some 10,000 quarantined returnees have been sent to 65 quarantine centres. The number of returnees (both registered and unregistered) to be quarantined at isolation centres is expected to increase.
Yet, concerns are growing over the failure of SLBFE officials to visit registered returnees after self-quarantine is completed to help them obtain the social security benefits they are entitled to (compensation claims), as well as other services based on the Return and Reintegration Sub-policy.
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