These employment agencies with direct contact with overseas principals have been doing business over the years, but now the FEB has received many complaints that these unregistered foreign employment agencies not only collect cash from prospective employees, which is illegal, but also cheat people seeking employment abroad.

FEB also remanded 26 people during the last four months in this regard.

According to FEB Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka the illegal agencies which operate island-wide obtain money from prospective employees who seek employment overseas, particularly in the Middle-East, Far-East and even countries like Greece and Italy.

These employment agencies with direct contact with overseas principals have been doing business over the years, but now the FEB has received many complaints that these unregistered foreign employment agencies not only collect cash from prospective employees, which is illegal, but also cheat people seeking employment abroad.

Cash is collected via commissions, air tickets etc, but the people were not sent abroad. Even if they send people abroad in some cases workers get into trouble there.

It was also reported that the Sri Lankan missions were in great difficulty in assisting them since they have not been registered with the FEB.

Those who run unregistered foreign employment agencies could be fined a sum of Rs.100,000 – Rs.400,000 and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of four years if found guilty, FEB Chairman said.