The Government is ready to sanction an estimated 25,000 jobs for Sri Lankans at NATO military facilities in war-torn Afghanistan, and recruitment could begin as early as next month, officials said yesterday.
The vacancies in that country extend from common labourers to skilled workers and professionals and the lowest wage per month is around $450, while doctors and other professionals could earn between $350,000 to 400,000, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLFEB) Deputy General Manager S.K. Ruhunuge told The Sunday Times.
“However local agents involved in the recruitment to Afghanistan will have to obtain a special security guarantee from the employer in that country before approval could be given from this end,” he said.
“Unlike in other labour receiving countries the ground situation in Afghanistan is somewhat different owing to the continuing hostilities between the NATO forces and rebels. As a result the security aspect will have to be carefully weighed before approval is given to this part of the world,” Mr. Ruhunuge added.
“Here again approval will be given for employment only in areas under the control of the NATO forces in that country. Recruitment in other areas will not be allowed,” Mr. Ruhunuge said.
He added that the Sri Lankan missions in neighbouring Pakistan or India will be asked to look into the welfare of the workers in Afghanistan before a permanent desk could be set up in Kabul.
Meanwhile there are also an estimated 100,000 job opportunities for Sri Lankans in Libya and efforts are currently underway to begin recruitment to that country at the earliest, he said.
The Libyan Government has offered some 100,000 jobs for Lankans, from labourers to skilled workers and professionals, he said.
An advance team comprising representatives from several sectors such as health, domestic etc., had already visited Libya last month to gather a first-hand assessment of the ground situation before the actual recruitment could start, Mr. Ruhunuge said.
He added that moves are also underway to establish a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in Tripoli that will help to facilitate the job market, while at the same time it could look into the welfare of those taking up employment in that country.
In addition a Libyan delegation is due in the country at any moment to conduct a close survey on the present recruitment procedures among other matters of interest, Mr. Ruhunuge said.
In addition the Libyans will also look at the possibility of setting up at least two training centres for overseas job hopefuls that will be fully manned by Sri Lankan staff, he further said.
Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) Secretary Faizer Mackeen told The Sunday Times that there were at least 25,000 vacancies in Afghanistan and that recruitment was to begin shortly.
He said a common labourer could earn something like $450 per month while a doctor and other professionals could earn anything between $350,000 to 400,000 a month.
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