Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP), MP Ravi Karunanayake, has raised concerns in Parliament over the exploitation of Sri Lankan migrant workers in the Middle East, particularly in relation to their wages.
Karunanayake urged the government to consider reinstating a mandatory minimum wage policy for migrant workers. He noted that a $300 minimum wage introduced in 2016 was removed in September 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MP highlighted that workers from countries like the Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are being recruited at low and often exploitative wage rates, despite these countries having signed bilateral agreements that ensure monthly salaries ranging from $218 to $1,364 depending on the job category.
He emphasized that with approximately 1.7 million Sri Lankans employed in the Middle East, a fair wage policy could boost annual remittances by up to $1.5 billion.
Karunanayake also questioned the Minister of Labor on whether bilateral agreements guaranteeing fair wages and working conditions have been signed with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait—and inquired about the current minimum wage applicable to Sri Lankan workers in these nations.
