IOM is backing efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Employment
Promotion and Welfare (MFEPW) to improve housekeeper/domestic help
and caregiver training courses to upgrade the skills of migrant
workers and enhance their earning potential abroad.

The majority of Sri Lankan migrant workers are women, many of
whom work as housemaids, primarily in the Arabian Gulf. The
remittances that they send home are critical to Sri Lanka's economy
and in 2008 reached an estimated USD 2.9 billion.

"Housekeeping and caregiving are two of the ten fastest growing
occupations worldwide and there is growing demand for people with
these skills in rich countries. The government recognizes that
comprehensive pre-departure training will increase demand for Sri
Lankan workers in this field," says IOM Sri Lanka's Chief of
Mission Mohammed Abdi Ker. 

The training, which IOM has helped the MFEPW to develop
following an extensive consultative process with government and the
private sector, includes the development of job profiles, the entry
requirements for courses, vocational training standards, curriculum
and training of trainer modules.

"The enhanced training will not only send better prepared
migrants. Their newly acquired knowledge will also improve their
understanding of their rights and protect them from abuses," says
Shantha Kulasekera, IOM Sri Lanka's Head of Migration
Management.

The MFEPW plans to streamline the pre-departure training of
migrant workers by asking all training providers to adopt the new
standards and curriculum. It also intends to introduce a credible
testing and evaluation system to ensure that any worker leaving Sri
Lanka to work in the two sectors has successfully completed the
relevant training and received a certificate.

"The contribution and efforts of IOM Sri Lanka in improving the
vocational skills of migrants have been timely and is a significant
step forward in the right direction for the betterment of our
migrant workers," says Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of
Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare.

In addition to the two training courses, IOM has also helped to
develop 25 Sri Lankan Worker Profiles for occupations in high
demand abroad.  The profiles are useful tools for the
promotion of Sri Lankan workers abroad, outlining the knowledge,
skills and attitudes expected in occupations in the hospitality,
construction and janitorial sectors.

In addition to improving pre-departure training, IOM also helps
the government in assessing labour migration challenges and
opportunities in Sri Lanka, and conducts labour market research on
opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled Sri Lankans abroad.

For more information please contact:

Shantha Kulasekara

Tel. +94.1.532.5300 (Ext. 356)

Mobile: +94.777 727 796

Email: "mailto:skulasekara@iom.int">skulasekara@iom.int

Stacey Winston

Tel. +94.1.532.5300 (Ext. 340)

Mobile: +94.7723662

Email: "mailto:swinston@iom.int">swinston@iom.int

or

Passanna Gunasekera

Tel. +94.1. 532.5300 (Ext. 341)

Email: "mailto:pgunasekera@iom.int">pgunasekera@iom.int