The authorities are planning to train and recruit more female crane operators with of financial aid from Japan with the aim of finding them lucrative employment overseas, a maritime trade unionist said yesterday.
He said this encouragement follows the recent passing out of eight female crane operators from the Mahapola facility and are currently employed as trainees at the Colombo Port.
He said the girls were selected from poor rural homes and were presently earning a monthly wage of Rs, 45,000.
This figure could double once they are confirmed in their positions after four months”, Palitha Atukorale of the National Union of Seafarers (NUSS) told the Sunday Observer.
He said the training and recruitment was made possible with vital financial assistance from the Japanese Government that was channeled through the International Labour Organization (ILO) office in Colombo.
He said that plans are being made to recruit more female crane operators and secure them with employment in foreign countries where they could fetch lucrative earnings.
The program which was initiated by the NUSS was funded by the Japanese Government and assisted by the ILO office in Colombo. Apart from the fresh batch of trainees there are one dozen experienced female gantry crane operators currently employed on a full-time basis at the Colombo Port, Atukorale sad. - LB