Friday May 22, 2026
Friday May 22, 2026
Thursday, 21 May 2026 06:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Cabinet of Ministers earlier this week approved plans to formulate the country’s first dedicated inbound labour migration policy, marking a significant shift in labour market strategy as businesses increasingly seek access to foreign skilled and semi-skilled workers.
The move reflects a growing demand across several sectors of the economy for foreign labour with specialised expertise, at a time when Sri Lanka continues to experience domestic workforce shortages and outward migration of local workers.
“Until now, the labour migration framework has primarily focused on the deployment of Sri Lankan workers overseas, particularly to the Middle East and other foreign employment destinations,” Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.
However, he said requests are now emerging for the recruitment of foreign workers in sectors requiring skilled, semi-skilled, and specialist capabilities.
He noted that regulation of inbound labour migration is currently handled through multiple administrative procedures spread across several institutions, creating fragmentation and limited oversight.
To address these gaps, the proposed policy seeks to establish a coordinated and centralised national framework governing the admission, employment, supervision, and protection of foreign workers entering Sri Lanka for employment purposes.
He said the framework will also incorporate a centralised information system to improve monitoring and regulation of inbound labour migration flows.
The proposal to this effect was submitted by Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando to introduce the policy and appoint a Steering Committee chaired by the Labour Ministry Secretary to prepare the draft framework.
According to the Government, the policy will aim to ensure that opportunities available to Sri Lankan workers are protected while enabling sectors facing labour shortages to access foreign expertise in a regulated manner.
He said the proposed policy is also expected to provide greater clarity for employers, investors, and regulators by creating a more transparent and structured process for foreign worker recruitment and oversight.
