TAKE WING, SUFFER AND DIE

Forgive me dearies, my column is grim as I have been troubled by a matter happening right now in our resplendence that no one seems to be able to stop. My heart was wrenched out of my rib cage, wrung and shattered when I heard of a story of a young woman who ended her life in a Middle Eastern country according to the death certificate and documents sent to the family in Sri Lanka, but the truth was that she was allegedly done to death for not giving in to the wants and needs of her Master on the one hand and the Mistress being cruel to her on the other. Why do our women have to suffer this fate at all? With the false hope that Middle Eastern Money can make poverty vanish, and their lives flourish, these women sell their souls to some unscrupulous operators linked with agents in those countries. I am told that this is rampant at the Bandaranaike International Airport because of lenient emigration laws. Operators allegedly make use of these loopholes in connivance with people at the landing port, to smuggle women across to chosen destinations, the women themselves not knowing where they are heading. These women, some not able to write, or speak a language other than their own tongue, are seen huddled together, nervous, drained and afraid, laying their tomorrows in the hand of the operator. Monies have been collected with great difficulty, selling or mortgaging property, a little jewellery or by loans and paid for passport, passage and fees. These Operators flout the easiest mode of entry to most Gulf countries, which is the visit visa, obtained on the payment of a fee, and then are said to get their linked in networkers to receive the women, and dispatch them to neighboring states. Many operators take custody of the passports on landing, and then the women lose their only documentation of identity, which is often forged. In the event of some misfortune, accident or death, there is thereby no record of the actual person. The Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies in Sri Lanka is in no position to curb the mass exits of workers under the guise of visitors every month as they say that the holder only needs a valid air ticket and visa to travel. It is said that the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has made some recommendations to curb these operators, but then it has to be presented for Cabinet approval and no one knows when that would be. Youtube and news sites carry horrendous stories of women who have suffered at the hands of merciless sponsors and families, the worst cases said to be reported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is also reported that the least number of cases regarding these domestic workers are reported from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where the people are said to be more empathetic and kind. Yes, I realize that these women take this risk for the sake of their families, their dependent children, perhaps an alcoholic husband, to provide for extended family, parents, and to build a home, but I wonder if they even know if they will return alive. Do they know how to use the electrical equipment that households in those countries have, when they do not know what electricity is in their own shacks? Can they understand the commands of their employers when they know only their vernacular? Can they care for infants and children when they have no experience at all? There is supposed to be a training course conducted by the Bureau of Foreign Employment, but how many women go through that? Why are women with toddlers given permission to leave? In the first place, why are mothers permitted to leave? I think it is time that the Government looks into this matter and makes provision for these women who have nothing else but be sacrificial lamb for these masters. Ridiculous as I may sound, and braving the cynics who would growl me down with a “Do you have a solution in the first place?” I say that mothers of babies and toddlers must not leave them. Women without training or experience must not go for foreign employment. There!! I have shared my grouse with you. I hope you will all stand up for this cause and discourage anyone you know planning to go through dubious agents to the Middle East. You will be saving a life. Cheerio then!!

RIDICULOUS AS I MAY SOUND, AND BRAVING THE CYNICS WHO WOULD GROWL ME DOWN WITH A “DO YOU HAVE A SOLUTION IN THE FIRST PLACE?” I SAY THAT MOTHERS OF BABIES AND TODDLERS MUST NOT LEAVE THEM. WOMEN WITHOUT TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE MUST NOT GO FOR FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT. MANY OPERATORS TAKE CUSTODY OF THE PASSPORTS ON LANDING, AND THEN THE WOMEN LOSE THEIR ONLY DOCUMENTATION OF IDENTITY, WHICH IS OFTEN FORGED.