Sri Lankan job seekers and foreign employment agencies are encountering numerous hurdles when attempting to secure jobs in Eastern European countries such as Malta, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, Serbia, and Albania. The primary obstacle they face stems from the absence of embassies for most of these countries in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Mohamed Farook Mohamed Arshad, Secretary of the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies, highlighted the plethora of job opportunities available in Eastern Europe, spanning from labor positions to engineering roles. However, he lamented the arduous process Sri Lankans must endure to apply for these positions due to the lack of embassies in their homeland.
“Job seekers are required to visit the embassies of these countries in India and spend nearly two weeks there to complete the necessary procedures,” remarked Mr. Arshad. He emphasized the financial burden this places on individuals, estimating costs around Rs. 300,000 for travel expenses to and from India. Additionally, he noted the congestion at embassy offices, prolonging the already demanding application process.
Mr. Arshad further expressed concerns over the unrecoverable expenses incurred by both job seekers and employment agencies in the event of visa rejections. Despite repeated appeals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for intervention, including the establishment of embassies or VFS centers, no favorable response has been forthcoming.
The Association urges President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to address this pressing issue, emphasizing the significant impact it has on job seekers and the foreign employment sector.
