COLOMBO : Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de Silva thanked the Government of Japan and the people of Japan for their assistance and support to the development of Sri Lanka and for Japan’s contribution to the development of Sri Lanka.
He was speaking at a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama at his Ministry on Thursday Sept,24.
The Minister further said that the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and its Ministry are already conducting training programs in Japanese language and familiarization programs of Japanese customs, traditions and professional culture which are required to send more Sri Lankan skilled workers to Japan.
The Minister requested the Ambassador to remove the delays in sending a large number of skilled workers selected by Japanese employers for employment in Japan and to activate the Japan Visa Center in Sri Lanka as soon as possible.
Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Sugiyama agreed to expedite the implementation of these matters to the Government of Japan on the effective control of the Covid 19 virus by Sri Lanka and to implement a positive program.
He said Japan has job opportunities for skilled workers in 14 professional fields in Japan, including construction, industry, electrical and electrical shipping, aviation and agriculture, and that workers from many Asian countries would be coming in, and that more Sri Lankan workers would be able to travel to Japan in the future.
Sugiyama said that Japan was pleased to have the opportunity to assist Sri Lanka as a developing country.
The Minister also said that Sri Lanka highly appreciates Japan’s support for the economic challenges faced by Sri Lanka, especially due to the Covid 19 epidemic.
The Minister further stated that in many countries sending workers for employment abroad, the employment agents of that country as well as the employment agents of the country of employment charge a large amount of money from the worker and this is contrary to the International Labor Organization (ILO) accepted conventions.
Kayo Imamura, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka and Mapa Pathirana, Secretary to the Ministry were also present on the occasion.