SLFEB training programme for overseas domestic employment

The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau ( SLFEB) has commenced a training programme for Sri Lankan workers proceeding to West Asia for domestic employment. The programme is currently limited to workers going to Saudi Arabia.

SLFEB, Deputy General Manager Mangala Randeniya said the pro- gramme will expand by 2014 to workers going to other West Asian countries.

" It took us about five years to develop this programme, including a oneyear test run. We expect it to take time to expand it to domestic workers going to other Wesr Asian countries," Mr. Randeniya stated.

There are currently 25 training centres across the country. The training programme consists of a vocational training module which teaches workers how to perform tasks such as housekeeping, laundry work and home gardening; a foreign language module and a common competency module that discusses pre- departure preparation, work attitudes and financial management. This module also covers possible obstacles in and out of the workplace, and how to overcome them.

The 21-day training programme will end with an assessment that is administered by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka. Successful candidates will be awarded an NVQ Level 3 qualification.

In addition to this training, the SLFEB said the basic salary for Sri Lankan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia has been increased to SR 900 ( LKR 31,320), from the previous SR 750 (LKR 26,100).

Mr. Randeniya added that these workers will no longer be referred to as housemaids, but will be called ' domestic housekeeping assistants.'

" This decision was made because, we wanted to ensure social security and protection for workers under International Labour Organisation conditions, which cover ' domestic housekeeping assistants,” Mr. Randeniya pointed out.