May 06, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have taken swift action to suspend six employees of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), including an Additional General Manager, following revelations of a large-scale financial scam linked to the illegal exemption of thousands of women from compulsory pre-departure job training.
The suspensions came into effect on May 05 and stem from internal investigations that have sent shockwaves through the foreign employment sector.
The fraudulent scheme, which reportedly unfolded between 2022 and August 2024, is believed to have allowed an estimated 35,000 women to bypass the mandatory training required for their first overseas domestic employment.
At the heart of the operation was the use of falsified documents—claiming prior overseas work experience—which enabled applicants to unlawfully avoid the compulsory preparation programme meant to equip them for the challenges of domestic labour abroad.
Sources familiar with the probe say that these fake exemptions were granted in exchange for payments ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 140,000 per person, allowing the perpetrators to amass approximately Rs. 250 million.
The identities of the suspended officials have not been disclosed, but preliminary findings suggest that high-level collusion within the Bureau may have enabled the scam to persist for more than two years.
Beyond the financial implications, the human cost of the fraud is also coming into focus. Reports are emerging of numerous untrained women being placed in vulnerable and abusive conditions overseas, particularly in domestic roles where prior training is crucial for both their safety and competence.
Several victims are said to have faced exploitation, mistreatment, and even physical harm due to their lack of preparation and understanding of foreign work environments.
The SLBFE has acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and pledged to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities in bringing those responsible to justice. The bureau is also said to be reviewing the integrity of its training and verification processes, with further administrative changes expected in the coming weeks.
Labour rights advocates have long criticised the insufficient safeguards in place for Sri Lankan women entering foreign employment markets, particularly in domestic sectors across the Middle East and East Asia.
This scandal is likely to fuel ongoing debates about the need for stricter oversight, digitalised tracking systems, and greater transparency in the operations of state institutions tied to foreign employment.
The Ministry of Labour is expected to release a statement outlining the steps to be taken to restore public trust in the SLBFE and to protect the rights of those seeking overseas employment in the future.
