Free lawyers and air tickets home for Sri Lankans in trouble overseas? New Bill proposed

Newswire reports that President’s Counsel and MP Faiszer Musthapha put forward a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament concerning the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act, enacted in 1985. Hiru News reports that the proposal concerns legal assistance and tickets home for Sri Lankan migrant workers in distress.

Newswire reports that the Bill would insert Section 48A and make government assistance a legal duty for qualifying registered workers, rather than leaving it to administrative discretion. The proposed support includes lawyers authorised to practise in the relevant host country, payment of legal costs, and arrangements for return travel, including economy fares, transit and emergency medical clearance.

Newswire reports that eligibility would cover workers whose contracted pay has gone unpaid for three consecutive months; those with documented physical, psychological or sexual abuse; workers whose contracts end early or unlawfully; and people exposed to armed conflict, serious political unrest or natural disasters in the host country.

Newswire reports that the Bill would make pre-departure instruction compulsory for registered migrant workers, covering destination-country cultural knowledge, cyber laws and rules on social-media use. It would also allow the Minister to issue regulations and establish a committee to examine assistance applications.

Newswire reports that the proposed changes concern Sri Lankans employed overseas by private businesses and public corporations, and would add financial and administrative responsibilities for the government if passed.