Information about the vacancies has been included in a job advertisement that was recently picked up by various road transport websites in Europe.
The ad, which can be found here, offers prospective drivers €750-€2,550 per month + bonuses to drive for Manvesta Logistics.
The salary is also stated in brackets in the local currency, the Sri Lankan rupee. A quick check of the exchange rate shows some wild discrepancies.
For example, the minimum salary figure quoted in rupees, Rs 326,550, is worth €833 according currency exchange website xe.com. That represents a not-insignificant difference of €83 compared to the €750 figure on the advertisement. A similar discrepancy exists with the higher salary of Rs 1,110,000 as well. It is actually worth €2,836 according to xe.com, some €336 more than the figure stated on the advert.
Although currencies are of course subject to fluctuation, the Sri Lankan rupee to Euro exchange rate has not changed significantly over the last few months. If anything, Sri Lanka’s currency has weakened since Spring 2022, making the advertised currency conversion even more difficult to understand.
In the advertisement, it is also said that the employer would be “delighted” if candidates have a CE licence and experience of driving in the Gulf states. Moreover, in an admission that arguably flirts with age discrimination, another preference is for drivers to be aged under 45. Finally, “basic” spoken English and a “hard working, responsible attitude” are the other skills and traits the company would be “delighted” applicants have.
Benefits listed on the advertisement include “competitive on-time payment”, insurance, training, a “flexible work schedule”, accomodation, and transport to work. Bizarrely, another benefit on the bullet point list read “food and air ticket not provided”.
In the introduction section of the advertisement, it is said that Manvesta Logistics is “willing to explore Sri Lankan talent and take the best out of the lot”.
Interviews are being held for the 250 vacancies this week.
Photo: Joachim / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0