Romanian Minister steps in to protect SL workers

Romanian Labor Minister looking for job offers for stranded Sri Lankans in Botoşani.

by Zulfick Farzan 26-05-2020 | 3:27 PM

Colombo (News 1st); The Romanian Minister of Labor, Violeta Alexandru is seeking for job offers on Facebook for 36 Sri Lankan workers who were laid off by their employer in the Romanian Town of Botoşani.

The contracts of these 36 Sri Lankans were terminated by the employer following COVID-19 concerns and according to Romanian Media the Sri Lankans do not wish to leave the country but prefer to work for a separate employer.

Reports suggest the 36 Sri Lankans had sought to be isolated for 14 Days at their workplace after one employee tested positive for COVID-19.

It adds, the group moved to institutionalized quarantine for three weeks, after which they were told they could return, however, they were fired.

Thereafter, the Sri Lankans were bussed to the airport only to find there was not flight arranged for them to return to the country, following which the Labor Minister had intervened on their behalf.

On Sunday, the Romanian Media reported the Sri Lankans were threatened with abandonment near the forest in Botosani if they refused to board the bus to be taken to the airport.

In a statement to Romanian Media, the country's Labor Minister had mentioned "My wish is that they, who do not speak English or English well, let alone the Romanian language, do not feel abandoned".