February 21, Colombo (LNW): The Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara, has called upon the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies to present comprehensive proposals and plans aimed at discontinuing the practice of sending Sri Lankan women abroad to work as housemaids. During a discussion with members of the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies, the Minister stressed the need to shift focus from sending women for overseas domestic work and instead encouraged proposals to channel women towards high-paying skilled categories of employment. Nanayakkara emphasized the importance of including the perspectives and suggestions of all stakeholders in these proposals. The Minister outlined a vision to completely cease the migration of Sri Lankan women for domestic work overseas within the next ten years. He expressed the intent to enhance opportunities for women to pursue employment in skilled categories, fostering a shift away from traditional roles as housemaids. Nanayakkara highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to achieve this transformation in the country’s overseas employment landscape.