The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment has banned 400 agencies found sending individuals overseas for employment purposes on visit visas with immediate effect with moves underway to freeze funds they have received through unofficial channels.
The moves follows a number of allegations regarding the victimisation of Sri Lankan Labourers, particularly women who were sent to the Middle East in irregular ways, and reports of a sex trafficking ring linked to workers stuck in Oman.
Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara informed the Parliament Parliament of the move last Saturday in response to a question raied by the opposition.
The Minister also stated that the representative agencies get their commission into Sri Lanka through the “undiyal” (unlicenced money transfer) system, and that such avenues have also been banned. (NewsWire)