The Kurunegala Centre for Human Rights and Community Development has revealed that the education level of 56% of migrant workers only go up to the Ordinary Level based on a survey conducted on the Migrant Health Policy and the Migrant Service Agreement.
The matter was discussed at the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus held under the chairmanship of MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle recently (18).
The CHRCD also revealed that a majority of migrant workers migrate through a private agency to Middle Eastern countries and despite only having O/Level qualification, 52% have signed the Migrant Service Agreement in English and other agreements in Arabic.
Therefore, the committee expressed concern over the level of comprehension when migrant worker signs such agreement.
It was further revealed that 60% of migrant workers leave to Kuwait and the rest to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries of which 70% migrated for work as housemaids.
MP Fernandopulle said the issues arising pertaining to the Migrant Health Policy and the Migrant Service Agreement should be further discussed and relevant officials and authorities must be called before the committee.
