By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): In the wake of the emigration of highly skilled and semi-skilled individuals from the country amidst economic hardships the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has stepped into to draw in more talented employees from Sri Lanka.
It has inaugurated the Skill Verification Programme (SVP) on Wednesday, a statement from the Saudi embassy in Colombo said.
The outflow of talented individuals, particularly in the fields of medicine, engineering, and information technology, has had a profound impact on the country’s development and economy.
The ministry of Labor and vocational training expressed the hope that this new proramme will provide more opportunities for talented un skilled youth to find employment in the Middle East easing the current brain drain.
The emigration of the number of skilled Sri Lankan workers increased by 130 percent to 92.836 in 2022 comparing to 40,390 in 2021
In the first stage of the external track of the programme, which is being implemented under the Ministry’s Professional Accreditation Programme, five professions, namely plumbers, electricians, refrigeration/air conditioning technicians, automobile mechanics, and automobile electricians are being considered for skill testing.
The programme has been introduced by the Ministry in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. In an effort to best regulate its labour market, it implemented SVP in July 2021.
The first phase of the SVP intends to validate workers’ skills in five specializations out of the 23 selected by the Ministry, to increase the quality of the professional workforce in the Saudi labour market and raise the level of professionalism.
The goal is also to boost productivity and stop the influx of unskilled professional labour into the Kingdom’s labour market.
Through two tracks—internal and international—the SVP seeks to confirm that employees in the targeted professions possess the essential skills.
The international track works with several recognized international examination centres to examine professional labour before their arrival.
Brain drain, the emigration of highly skilled individuals from the home country, poses a significant challenge for the island nation.
Sri Lanka known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes, has been grappling with this issue for decades.
The outflow of talented individuals, particularly in the fields of medicine, engineering, and information technology, has had a profound impact on the country’s development and economy.
One of the primary drivers of brain drain in Sri Lanka is the limited employment opportunities for highly skilled professionals.
The lack of stability and consistent policies in Sri Lanka has discouraged many talented individuals from staying and investing their skills in the country.
Higher salaries and better living standards abroad: Economic factors play a significant role in brain drain.
