Abstract:
Migration between nations is a phenomenon with a long history. Increased participation
of females as domestic workers is a significant change in the labour market in the Middle
East. With this new trend Sri Lankan women have become both home makers and
breadwinner.
Remittances are used as a key strategy for poverty reduction. Earnings of female migrants
which is the second largest source of external revenue after garment industry have
contributed towards enhancement ofthe balance ofthe payment of the country. Further in
2005, female domestic workers in the Middle East sent home 108, 900 million rupee out
of total private remittances of 191,800
In such a context, number of deaths and violation of human rights in the host country and
difficulties in the migration process from the beginning of the foreign employment to its
premature or mature completion is a frequent subject of debate. Furthermore it's a
commonly observed that hired domestic women under kafala or sponsorship system are
extremely vulnerable to exploitation and abusive conditions. Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the
Protection of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families were adopted by the
United Nations in order to bind the states with international law.
Thus the objective of the study is to examine the policy implications that contribute in
protecting women migrants especially through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign
Employment. The methodology of the study is composed of both qualitative and
quantitative methods. In addition the survey applied stratified random sampling method
in selecting the sample that comprised a group of migrated and prospective migrant
women. Most of the migrant women are dissatisfied with the role of the initiatives taken
by the responsible institutions and they don't have adequate knowledge of protection
extended by international organizations.
The paper concludes that the protection given by national and international level is not
adequate and should be strengthened more urgently.
