INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Muscat, Oman says it has received an increasing number of complaints daily from Sri Lankan female domestic
workers who arrived in Oman.According to the embassy, a majority of them have arrived on visit or tourist visas intending to convert them to
work visas.Many of them have been trafficked by unscrupulous and unregistered agents and they have faced tremendous difficulties including
various harassment, the embassy said in a statement.At present, nearly 90 Sri Lankan female domestic workers are stranded in Oman seeking
They are unable to afford the repatriation-related expenses such as visa, overstay penalty, air ticket, agent fees, and the cost of
recruitment demanded by their respective sponsors.These female victims were sheltered at the safe house for which the expenses are borne by
the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE)
The embassy provides welfare facilities to these female workers which include medical assistance.The embassy has been continuously
coordinating with the Omani authorities to facilitate the early repatriation of these migrant workers
the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist such victims.The embassy encourages Sri Lankans who seek jobs
in Oman to obtain their employment only through proper channels.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
