90 SL domestic aides stranded in Oman

At least 90 Sri Lankan female domestic workers who had come to Oman under visit or tourist visas are stranded in there seeking repatriation assistance, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat said.

The Embassy said it keeps receiving numerous complaints on daily basis from Sri Lankan domestic aides who had already reached Oman.

Most of them have reached Muscat under visit or tourist visas intending to convert them to work visas. Many of them were trafficked by unscrupulous and unregistered agents and have faced tremendous difficulties including various types of harassments, the Embassy said in a communiqué.

Around 90 Sri Lankan female domestic workers are currently stranded in Oman as they could not afford the expenses relating to their existence or repatriation such as visa, overstay penalty, air ticket, agency fee and the cost of recruitment as demanded by their respective sponsors.

The Embassy said the Sri Lankan victims were sheltered at the safehouse for which the expenses are borne by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). The Embassy provides welfare facilities to these female workers which includes medical assistance.

The Embassy has been continuously coordinating with the Omani authorities to facilitate early repatriation of these stranded migrant workers.

The Embassy has facilitated repatriation of over 240 female workers during this year and the Embassy said it has also sought the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist such victims.

The Embassy encourages Sri Lankans who seek jobs in Oman to obtain their employment only through genuine channels.