The State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotions and Market Diversification is dedicated to create and implement policies related to gainful foreign employment to Sri Lankans, to ensure the rights of migrant workers and to provide their welfare needs. The Ministry continuously expands its services and facilities to exploit more foreign employment opportunities to gain more foreign exchange to the country while providing a higher contribution to the whole economy.
State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotions and Market Diversification is dedicated to create and implement policies related to gainful foreign employment to Sri Lankans, to ensure the rights of migrant workers and to provide their welfare needs. The Division continuously expands its services and facilities to exploit more foreign employment opportunities to gain more foreign exchange to the country while providing a higher contribution to the whole economy.
Institutions under the purview of the Ministry as per Extraordinary Gazette No. 2064/26 - Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Better governance and regulation of Labour migration based on consultative process with social partners and civil society in the formulation of migration policy
Providing effective protection and services to migrant workers and their families left behind
Mobilizing development contribution of labour migration in terms of remittances, re-integration of returning migrant workers, circulation policies and linkage with National communities
Formulation of policies programmes and projects and monitoring and evaluation in regard to the subject of foreign employment and those subjects that come under the purview of Institutions, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment & Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency.
The responsibility of this branch is to perform all the administrative functions in order to facilitate the achievement of the Mission i.e. To convert the entire labour migration sector in to a demand driven process and make it highly competitive by introducing required structural changes together with necessary promotional and welfare activities to meet the international market challenges realizing the importance of its contribution to the National Economy.
The main objective of establishment of the Ministry is to be the leading policy maker and implementer to create gainful foreign employment opportunities, whilst protecting rights of migrant workers and ensuring their welfare and protection. Accordingly, functions aiming development is assigned to this branch.
The following actions are performed to relate to Colombo Process (CP), Abhu Dhabi Dialogue (ADD), Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and Global Convention on Safe and Orderly Migration (GCM).
To achieve the overall mission of the division, following functions has been assigned to the Account Branch with the main objective of maintaining transparency and accountability of public financial with the sound public financial reporting and safeguard the assets.
The Internal Audit Division is directly responsible to the Secretary of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment. It is responsible for auditing the internal activities of the Division. This will ensure that the division’s programs and projects are carried and in an economic, effective manner and compliance with the financial regulations and other relevant laws and regulations pertaining to the use and management of Government Funds.
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Foreign Employment is the largest source of foreign exchange in Sri Lankan economy and it’s generating substantial inflows of remittance and relieving the pressure of local unemployment. The Ministry implements various programmes for developing a long term vision for the role of labour migration in the economy, increasing benefits for migrant workers and their families, and upholding all human and labour rights of migrant workers. Amisdt the COVID 19 Pandemic, the Ministry is striving to secure the foreign employment opportunuties for migrant workers as well as securing opportunities for the stakeholders of the industry. Further, the process of entering into memoranda of understanding with several European and Asian countries in addition Middle Eastern countries is in operation with view to seeking new employment opportunities. The Ministry is more focusing on promoting skilled and professional categories which have a higher earning capacity and less employment related issues. The Ministry continuously expands its services and facilities to generate more employment opportunities for citizens while ensuring their right to engage in a foreign employment in the conditions where freedom, dignity, security and equity are assured. To facilitate this, the Ministry is entering to regional and international agreements as well as regional dialogues.Hon. State Minister of Foreign Employment Promotions and Market Diversification
With globalization, Labour migration is going to increase, each year; nearly two hundred thousand of Sri Lankan women and men leave their homes and cross national borders seeking higher wages and better opportunities. At the same time, in major destination countries demand for skilled workers, and certain low-skilled jobs increased due to population decline and population ageing. Based on the specific goals stated in the Special Gazette no. 2187/27 of 2020.08.09. and Vistas of the Prosperity of the Government the Ministry functions to promote and diversify the foreign employment sector in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan labour migrants today are a very mixed group, including seasonal workers, temporary contract workers, skilled migrant workers, trainees etc. We should govern migration to create growth and prosperity in both origin and destination countries, while protecting and benefiting migrant workers themselves. Accordingly, the Ministry has implemented number of projects and programmes to achieve the goals of the national policy in collaboration with all key stake holders. The Ministry has focused on securing employment opportunities for the migrant workers and repatriation of needy migrant workers due to COVID 19 pandemic. A contributory pension scheme for migrant workers are to be introduced and the work is in its final stage.Considering the need of revision of the existing legislations on migration in line with the International Conventions; the Ministry has taken steps to update the existing National Labour Migration Policy and amend the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act. The Ministry takes steps for the active engagement with regional and global consultations to promote cooperation and coordination between member countries and also with the destinations.