THE UAE GOVERNMENT TO SIGN AGREEMENT WITH SRI LANKA TO PREVENT EXPATRIATE WORKERS BEING EXPLOITED

By Walter Jayawardhana

United Arab Emirates will sign a memorandum of understanding with the government of Sri Lanka that would prevent employers in the country from inhumanely treating Sri Lankan expatriate workers and exploiting them illegally, the UAE government said.

The MOU into this effect will be signed during a visit by UAE labor Minister Dr. Ali Bin Abdullah Al Ka’abi to Colombo.

An official website quoting Nabavi Junaid the Sri Lankan Ambassador said the MoU with the UAE to streamline exports of manpower to the UAE will be signed this month between the two countries when the UAE Minister visits for an official trip to Sri Lanka this month.

The ambassador said the agreement aims to eliminate exploitation of workers by unauthorized job agents and unscrupulous recruitment agencies.

Under the agreement signed between the two countries the working conditions of the expatriate Sri Lankan workers will be alleviated, the ambassador said.

Under the new conditions the workers should be provided with provisions of proper accommodation, welfare, health, safety, and guarantee all rights under the UAE labor law, the ambassador said.

The UAE labor ministry has signed similar agreements with India and Pakistan already. A similar agreement is also scheduled to be signed with Bangladesh, the UAE government has announced.(