ASIA/SRI LANKA - Caritas helps immigrants and migrants

Wednesday, 6 April 2016 work   human rights   discrimination   formation   education   caritas  

Caritas Sri Lanka

Colombo (Agenzia Fides) - The work of aid of Caritas Sri Lanka reaches immigrant workers and those who migrate abroad in search of work. Caritas works with economic aid, education, professional training programs, in a network of civil society organizations that promote the integration and social inclusion of migrants and their families in foreign countries.
As reported in a note sent to Fides, "Caritas Sri Lanka works to create a decent work environment for migrant workers' at home, offering psychological, legal support and material assistance; and, on the other hand, it carries out a role of information on workers' rights abroad and, if necessary, acts as a mediator between the embassies and the employment office of Sri Lanka abroad, to promote the integration into the social fabric, or to facilitate the return of exploited workers to the country.
According to government statistics, there are almost 1.7 million Sri Lankan expatriate workers, mostly women who are employed as domestic servants in Middle Eastern countries. These workers often suffer abuse or harassment. In February 2016, the Government of Sri Lanka organized the repatriation of hundreds of migrant workers, victims of human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait.
Faced with this situation, Caritas has developed new programs to sensitize and raise awareness of the risks of emigration of those who want to go abroad. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/04/2016)


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