Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka adopted the Inter-Ministerial and Inter-Agency Coordination Framework for development and support of the National Migration Health Policy, which coordinates many sectors involved in promoting the health of migrants and families left-behind.

Currently in its third phase, the ILO Safe Labour Migration Programme in Sri Lanka contributes to promote safe and regular migration through improved policies and legal frameworks related to labour migration and better service provision to migrant workers and their families.

The labour migration/foreign employment sector is one of 9 sectors included in the “National Framework on Prevention of Sexual and Gender based Violence” developed through support of the United National Development Programme under the leadership of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.

The National Labour Migration Policy in Sri Lanka was adopted in 2009. It focusses on three main segments: Governance of migration, protection of the rights of migrants workers and migration and development. This national policy draws on the ILO multilateral framework and development through the border consultation of the key stakeholders. Implementation of the policy is monitored by the national labour migration advisory council consistent with the procedures of key stakeholders in the migration sector, and chaired by the Minister in charge.

In Sri Lanka officials admit that going through the formal channel does not guarantee that migrants will receive their agreed-upon salary.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1985, one of its objectives being the establishment of an Overseas Workers Welfare Fund (OWWF). The OWWF aims to meet all expenses incurred in providing assistance to Sri Lankan migrant workers and their families. The Fund offers a compulsory insurance scheme, coverage of cost of repatriation of migrant workers, scholarships for children, and loan schemes with partner banks to cover migrants' pre-departure costs and start-up of self-employment schemes.

Since 2011, the Government of Sri Lanka has been looking to shift its migrant worker population from a mainly low skilled work force to more of a skilled work force to  ensure better conditions of employment and higher wages overseas, and recognition and employability upon return to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment have made it mandatory for female migrant domestic workers to be trained as housekeeping assistants with National Vocational Qualification Level 3 certification. These workers will be categorised as housekeeping assistants, a level above their former occupational classification as ‘house maids'. Their minimum wage also will be raised – for example the minimum wage for those migrating to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be raised to Saudi Riyal 900 (Lkr.

This objective is to make diaspora investment and remittances more productive and effective and to connect western markets and emerging markets.

The Diaspora Business Centre is a one stop shop that combines business and social interests, paired with professional know-how by diaspora experts.

Their activities entail the following:

The Project “Vocational Training in the North of Sri Lanka” (VTN) is a bilateral cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The objective is to establish a new vocational training institute in Kilinochchi - the Sri Lankan German Training Institute (SLGTI) - together with various partner institutions working in the region. The SLGTI will offer training programs to young people which will enable them to acquire qualifications for employment or self-employment according to the needs on the market.