JEDDAH, 30 October 2007 — Sri Lanka seeks to increase the minimum monthly salary of its domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. “We are intensifying our efforts to demand a minimum of SR500 per month for our housemaids,” A.H.M. Fowzie, the island state’s senior minister, said yesterday.
Asked for his comments on the Labor Ministry’s new conditions regarding the recruitment of maids and drivers, Fowzie, who heads portfolios that include petroleum and petroleum resources, health, highways and social services, said Sri Lankan domestic workers were lowly paid and there was a need for setting minimum salary levels.
“All we want is that our domestic workers be paid a reasonable monthly salary; at present they are very low. Also, the facilities and privileges offered to our domestic workers by the local employers should be reasonable. We hope Saudi Arabia will agree to our request,” the minister told Arab News at a reception hosted in his honor by a community group.
Sri Lanka’s Haj preparations are in full swing and this year about 5,500 Sri Lankans — the same figure as last year — will perform the annual pilgrimage.
“This time we have intensified our efforts to see that the pilgrims are not exploited by the country’s tour operators. Last year, the government suspended 18 tour operators for not offering the desired level of service to the pilgrims. This year, we have suspended three other operators,” Fowzie said.
Sri Lanka has 68 operators who handle Haj and Umrah pilgrims. The first group of Sri Lankan pilgrims will arrive by both Saudi Arabian Airlines and SriLankan Airlines on Nov. 25.
Its pilgrims will also come by Mihin, the country’s low-fare airline, and other international airlines.
Fowzie said Sri Lanka’s All Party Conference (APC) would forward a joint proposal by December for a negotiated settlement of the ethnic issue with the participation of the international mediators to the LTTE. “The proposal seeks a political settlement of the long standing issue through a devolution of power that would enable all districts to administer themselves without depending on the government. It would also emphasize on granting equal rights to all ethnic groups,” Fowzie said.
Sri Lanka will be able to produce its own crude oil by 2010 from oil exploration in the Mannar basin. Eight blocks in the basin have already been identified for oil exploration activities. Of these blocks, two blocks have been given to India and China, Fowzie said, adding that his ministry has decided to call for tenders to give another three blocks to other foreign investors.
