Special unit set up to tackle human trafficking

The Government is working on the prevention, protection and prosecution of human trafficking and stern legal action would be taken against human traffickers, Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorala said yesterday.

Addressing the launching of a newly established special unit to investigate human trafficking at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) the Minister said the move was part of the government’s overall strategy to tackle the problem.

The new anti-trafficking unit would operate under the ministry’s inspections division and would identify and investigate potential trafficking cases, Athukorala said. The unit would also monitor compliance with local employment legislation, she said.

Minister Athukorala stressed that human trafficking represented a threat to the welfare and security of Sri Lankan society and national economy and, consequently the proper functioning of migrant labour market.

The new unit would co-ordinate with the other dedicated bodies. Its role would include increased scrutiny of recruitment agents that sent migrant workers, she said. The ministry was also working to improve the migrant worker inspections process and actively engaged in the development of standards to improve conditions for Sri Lankan migrant workers, she added.

Sri Lanka had been identified as a vulnerable nation by the United Nation’s researchers as regards human trafficking, the Minister said, adding that therefore it was important to take steps to monitor all incidents of human trafficking.