Latest News

Hon. Minister Dilan Perera visit to SLFEA Office at 2011 / 01 / 05. (View – Meeting Highlights

Deployment of 300 Seasonal Agricultural Workers from Sri Lanka to State of Israel by Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency

A batch of 300 seasonal agricultural workers from Sri Lanka to Israel recruited under a pilot project launched by the Government of Israel in agreement with Government of Sri Lanka is to leave for Israel for employment in the next few days. This is the first time that a large batch of workers found employment opportunities in Israel at a time.

Government of Israel recruits expatriate manpower only from countries where bi lateral agreements for recruitment prevails between two respective countries. Although no such agreement exists between Sri Lanka and Israel the Government of Israel has offered 300 employment opportunities in their Agricultural Sector under a pilot project jointly launched by the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Israel, Ministry of Population Immigration and Boarder Authority, Ministry of Agriculture of Israel.

The responsibility of selection and recruitment of workers has been vested solely with Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency (SLFEA) which is the only Government Agency for foreign employment that operates within the purview of the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministry of External Affairs and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment have also played a key role in selection and grooming of 300 persons within a very short period of time while maintaining transparency and other guidelines agreed with the Government of Israel. The dedication and commitment of officials of SLFEA as well Migration Authority of Israel and Embassy of Israel in New Delhi contributed heavily to this success story that was gauged as a task impossible at the start.  

Deployment of 300 workers to Israel is the third large project handled by ‘Sayuren Etherata’ Programme launched within four months of its launching in June 2010 by the SLFEA. It started with deployment of 40 factory workers to Malaysia followed by fulfilling a job order of 78 factory workers who are waiting to fly in early November 2010 to same destination.

‘Sayuren Etherata’ has been launched to meet broader objectives of Government policy on foreign employment as ushered in ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ denoting a paradigm shift from deploying unskilled domestic helpers to skilled workers and professionals to international job market. The programme is operated in partnership with ‘Thurunu Saviya’ the youth empowerment programme launched by Hon. Namal Rajapaksha with the objective of strengthening youth of Sri Lanka with resources, experience and exposure to face future with confidence.  

For many reasons this achievement denotes a land mark in foreign employment history of Sri Lanka

These workers have been recruited to employ in agricultural sector in Israel which is a country renowned world over for using modern and environment friendly technology in agriculture. Yielding high productivity and cost effectiveness in agricultural produce have made them competitive in   international markets in this sector. Farm mechanization and use of appropriate machinery and appliances, minimizing post harvest losses are other competitive edges they have achieved. Therefore the exposure and experience that these Sri Lankan workers could gain with this employment is quite considerable.

The employment contract entered into between employee and employer under this project very clearly stipulates that these workers are entitled to same protections and rights provided to Israel workers under Labour laws of Israel. They have to work according to stipulated no. of hours and any working hours beyond that will be paid under extra hour rules. The contract further stipulates rest time, food, accommodation, heat, water, kitchen equipment and other basic needs those have to be provided by employer. As in case of Israel own workers these workers are entitled to resort to ‘Labour Ombudsman’ in Israel for their grievances and violation of employment rights.

The total charges levied to a worker by SLFEA on this recruitment are the minimum possible cost to a worker on foreign employment which is far below the charges levied by any recruitment agency in Sri Lanka. This lowest charge included payments for statutory payments for documentation and registration for other services as well.

These workers could be re-deployed for employment after their timely return at the end of six months and satisfactory performance of work during employment period. Therefore it is up to the worker to decide whether to create his path for a brighter future by earning his next opportunity to work in Israel. It is also their responsibility to show impressive performance, discipline and other norms and standards in work so that Israel will maintain and enhance job opportunities for more Sri Lankan youth and in varied fields. This is a pilot project and continuation and expansion of job opportunities lies mainly with these workers.

Israel is happy to extend further job opportunities to Sri Lanka depending on success of this pilot project. Such opportunities will not only expand in the same sector but also into many other sectors as well.

The two governments wish to express heartiest thanks to those organizations and persons that contributed to the success of recruiting and deployment of these workers under the pilot project. All Ministries of Sri Lanka and Israel, especially the officials of Israel Embassy in New Delhi, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency and Sri Lanka Bureau of foreign Employment whose tireless efforts contributed immensely to the success of this project.  

We wish good luck for the workers who are starting their journey not only to Israel but also to a brighter future from today.