Press Release
Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Hon. Manusha Nanayakkara concluded a visit to the UAE from 18 to 22 January 2023. The aim of the visit of the Hon. Minister Nanayakkara was to enhance bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the UAE in the field of labour, to increase professional employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the UAE labour market, and to address the employment related challenges of Sri Lankan migrant workers.
On 20 January 2023, Hon. Minister had a fruitful bilateral discussion with Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), at the Ministry of Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation in Dubai. During the meeting both parties discussed the possible avenues for increasing job opportunities for Sri Lankans, especially for professional skilled job categories and addressing issues related to the existing Sri Lankan migrant workers. Dr. Abdulrahman, Minister of MoHRE expressed his pragmatic approach to the matters raised by the Minister with regard to the Sri Lankans arrived in UAE on visit visa and assured the collaborative work on mitigating human trafficking as well as smuggling. Further, both sides agreed to continue the discussions on exchange of technical cooperation through the legal framework that was set up in 2021 and consented to implement the qualifications’ equalization programme by mapping the qualification framework which is to recognize the qualifications of Sri Lankan migrant workers.
During the visit, Hon. Minister had a meeting with the representatives of the domestic sector recruitment agencies (Tadbeer Centers) based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and discussed the issues pertaining to the recruitments from Sri Lanka. With a view to create a platform for raising issues and difficulties faced by the Sri Lankan migrant workers in UAE, on 21 January 2023, the Embassy organized an interactive session between the Hon. Minister and the community groups. Hon. Minister Nanayakkara paid a visit to the safe-house of the Sri Lanka Consulate General Office in Dubai and listened to the grievances made by the stranded female migrant workers.
Mr. Udaya Indrarathna, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to UAE and Consul General of Dubai Nalinda Wijeratne, Assistant Secretary for Labour Affairs Ayesha Belharfia, Assistant Secretaries Abdulla Alnuaimi, Mohsin Muhsih, Assistant Director for International Bilateral Affairs Noora Alsuwaidi, International Affairs Expert Mohamed Alhammadi, Executive Officer Moza Alshamsi were also attended.
