Steps will be taken to grant pension for the migrant workers who contribute enormously to the country's economic development.

Accordingly the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau entered into an agreement with the Social Security Board to launch a pension scheme for the benefit of expatriate workers yesterday.

The pension scheme will provide a monthly pension from the age of 60 until his or her death when the subjected migrant worker had contributed to the scheme regularly. If the beneficiary dies before the age of 80, his spouse or dependant will be benefited by this scheme.

Therefore, this pension scheme will enable them to be economically stable in the latter part of their lives and recognize their dividend of contribution for the country's economic progress.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Keheliya Rambukwella attending the signing ceremony held at the Foreign Employment Bureau stated that the country is directly responsible for the welfare of expatriate workers whose contribution exceeds US$ 1.3 billion or a 21% in total foreign exchange earnings.

Minister Rambukwella added that only the State could provide a pension scheme which is strictly for the welfare of the working community without expecting a profit for their contribution. The private sector is engaged in canvassing a pension scheme which is not purely for the benefit of workers.

“The migrant workers undergo untold hardships thousands of miles away for the survival of their families back in Sri Lanka and make their children's lives happy. The Foreign Employment Promotion Ministry and the Social Services Ministry were faced with immense difficulty in formulating a pension scheme for this category as they are working on a contract basis,” added the Minister.

Deputy Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Lionel Premasiri also attending the ceremony stated that the Social Security Board has enrolled private sector employees, those engaged in self-employment into various pension schemes.

Over 3000 persons are presently benefited by this scheme. This scheme was initially launched for the benefit of farmers and later it was extended to other sectors too.

Foreign Employment Promotion Ministry Secretary Ranjani Nanayakkara, Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Sunil Samaraweera, Social Security Board Chairman Sarath Keerthirathne and Social Security Board's General Manager PEC Nesaiah were also present.

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