New EPF scheme for SL expatriates

The Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Ministry is to set up a new Provident Fund scheme for the benefit of 1.3 million expatriate Sri Lankan workers next year, the Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said yesterday.

Chairman of the SLBFE Amal Senalankadhilankara told the Daily Mirror that the blue print for this special Provident Fund had already been prepared and several rounds of talks had been held with the stakeholders.

“We expect to make it com- pulsory for foreign employers who recruit Sri Lankans for domestic service or private establishments. We can do this under existing agreements and through insurance but the Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera expects to sign bilateral agreements with foreign countries that employ Sri Lankans,” he said.

The contributions to the special Provident Fund for Expatriate Sri Lankans (PFESL) would be worked out under the same EPF criteria. The member will have to contribute 8% of the salary and the employer 12%. Every Sri Lankan will have to get the membership of the PFESL together with a life insurance

Every Sri Lankan will have to get the membership of the PFESL together with a life insurance policy prior to his or her departure for foreign employment

policy prior to his or her departure for foreign employment, Mr. Senalankadhilankara said. He said the SLBFE would discourage women from taking up foreign employment as domestic aides in the Middle East in particular and totally stop sending house maids there within the next ten years.

“We encourage, assist and train semi skilled, skilled and professional workers to secure jobs in the Middle East, in EU countries, the US, Canada and Australia targeting a bigger annual remittance,” he stressed.