1600 SL migrant workers in SK to be repatriated within two months: Min. Nimal Siripala De Silva

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lankan migrant workers stranded in South Korea following the expiration of their work contracts, will be repatriated within two months, the Minister of Labour said. "1600 Sri Lankan migrant workers will be repatriated via special repatriation flights," Nimal Siripala De Silva, the Minister of Labour said on Tuesday (Aug 18). According to the Minister, Training Centres of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment will be utilized to quarantine the returning migrant workers. Minister De Silva further pointed out until this group is repatriated, the next batch of Sri Lankan migrant workers who wish to visit South Korea for employment cannot enter South Korea. The Minister made these comments during a meeting held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Labour, with Kim Won Seok, the resident representative of the Korean Human Resources Development Agency for Sri Lanka. During the meeting, Kim Won Seok pointed out that facilities in Sri Lanka are not adequate to hold Korean examinations and training programs. Thereby, the Minister agreed to establish a special training centre that can accommodate 200 job applicants. Secretary to the Ministry of Labour - Mapa Pathirana and officers of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment as well as SriLankan Airlines officials were also present at the meeting.