ABOUT US

Who We are

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.

"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."
"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."

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.

  • Foreign Employment Subject been assigned as a Sub-Subject under Labor Affairs Subject since its origin in Sri Lanka, 1977.
  • A separate Ministry for Foreign Employment was established for the first time in December,2005.
  • Ministry for Foreign Employment was established on 29.01.2007 by virtue of Extraordinary Gazette No. 1428/8- Monday, January 29,2007.
  • Ministry of Foreign Employment was amalgamated with the Ministry of External Affairs on 30.04.2010 by virtue of Extraordinary Gazette No. 1651/20 - Friday, April 30, 2010.
  • Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion & Welfare was re-established on 22.11.2010 by virtue of Extraordinary Gazette No. 1681/3 – Monday, November 22, 2010
  • Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare has been named as the Ministry of Foreign Employment on 18.01.2015 by virtue of Extraordinary Gazette No. 1897/15 - Sunday, January 18, 2015.
  • Ministry of Foreign Employment was amalgamated with the Ministry of Telecommunication & Digital Infrastructure on 28.03.2018 by virtue of Extraordinary Gazette No. 2064/26 - Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

Institutions under the purview of the Ministry as per Extraordinary Gazette No. 2064/26 - Wednesday, March 28, 2018

  • 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.
  • Provide solutions to employment problems of migrant workers and promote their welfare.
  • Introduction of new laws to ensure the protection of migrant workers.
  • Regulation and supervision of employment agencies.
  • Provisions of career guidance for overseas employment.
  • Matters relating to all other subjects assigned to institutions under the purview of the Division.
  • Supervision of the organizations comes under the purview of the Division.
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act, No.21 of 1985

Governance and Regulation of Migration

Better governance and regulation of Labour migration based on consultative process with social partners and civil society in the formulation of migration policy

Protecting and Empowering Migrant

Providing effective protection and services to migrant workers and their families left behind

Migration and Development

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.

  • Provide solutions to employment problems of migrant workers and promote their welfare
  • Introduction of new laws to ensure the protection of migrant workers
  • Regulation and supervision of employment agencies
  • Provisions of career guidance for overseas employment
  • Matters relating to all other subjects assigned to institutions under the purview of the Division
  • Supervision of the organizations comes under the purview of the Division

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.

  • Maintenance of personal files of all the staff of the division and the approved carder for the division
  • Functions related to the local and foreign leaves of all staff of the division.
  • Functions related to Railway Warrants, Railway Season Tickets, Official Identity Cards and tasks related to NITF-Agrahara insurance of all staff of the division.
  • Functions related to Local and Foreign Training of all staff of the division.
  • Functions related to various allowances such as Overtime, Holiday Work Allowances, Festival Advance and Other Advance of all staff of the division.
  • Maintenance of Record Room and Library of the division.
  • Functions related to Daily Mail and Postage.
  • Functions related to Cabinet Ministers such as Cabinet Papers, Cabinet Observations and Cabinet Memoranda relevant to the division.
  • Functions related to Parliament such as Sectorial Oversight Committee, Parliamentary Select Committee, Public Petition Committee and Explanation to Parliamentary Verbal Queries relevant to the division.
  • Functions related to Judicial Affairs of Hon.Minister, Hon.Deputy Minister, Division and Secretary, Forwarding Proxy and other tasks related to Attorney General’s Department
  • Supervision and General Administration of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment
  • General Administration of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency.
  • Supervision and General Administration of Foreign Missions such as Appointments, Administrative Tasks, Issue of Permits for Vehicle Import for Officers appointed from the division and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
  • Supervision, Administration and Coordination of the duties of the Development Officers attached to all District and Divisional Secretariats with the coordination of District and Divisional Secretariats and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment
  • Functions related to the Official Website of the division such as update, timely developments and its security.
  • Functions related to the Media such as coordination of coverage of functions and events, Social Media, Media Research and Investigation, Events, Functions and Exhibitions.
  • Functions related to the elections relevant to the division.
  • Producing reports to other institutions.
  • Coordination of Audit Queries.
  • Functions related to Resolving Requests and Queries such as appeals of pubic and licensed foreign employment agencies to the division and appeals and requests of Tell President Programme to the division.
  • Functions related to Information Technology such as maintenance of internal and external telephone network, maintenance of peripherals such as computers and printers, coordination between of Lanka Government Network (LGN) and the division and Maintenance of Local Area Network of the division.
  • Functions related to Vehicles such as Repair and Service of vehicles of the division, assigned to Hon. Minister and assigned to Hon. Deputy Minister, task assignment for pool vehicles and issue of fuel and tasks related to rent-in vehicles.
  • Functions related to fixed assets, maintenance of building, machinery, equipment and installations and tasks related to energy management.
  • Functions related to consumables of the division.
  • Functions related to disciplinary affairs of all staff of the division.
  • Functions related to Primary Investigations of development officers attached to all district and divisional secretariats.
  • Maintenance of Files related to Primary and Formal Investigations
  • Producing reports to Ministry of Public Administration, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and other relevant institutions.
  • Functions related to Major Procurements.

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.

  • Preparation of Annual Action Plan.
    • Preparation of Annual Action Plan including the targets and aims which should be achieved in a defined time line.
    • Preparation and progress review of Other Action Plans Related to Foreign Employment such as National Action Plan of Human Rights (NHRAP), Human Trafficking Action Plan, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Action Plan (SGBV) and Return and Re-Integration Action Plan.
  • Preparation of Annual Action Plan and Progress Report for Budget.
    • Gathering information on performance from all the branches of the division, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency, Preparation of Annual Report and forwarding to relevant authorities.
  • Progress Review and Follow-up
    • Progress Review and Monitoring of the performance of development plans of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency.
      • Progress Review of construction of Migrant Resource Centers. (MRCs)
      • Follow up the achievement of targets and aims of Action Plan.
      • Conducting meetings to observation of quarterly progress of Action Plan.
      • Field visits on demand
      • Preparation of Progress Reports and forwarding to relevant authorities.
      • Evaluation of the progress of division through Annual Report, preparation of budget and forwarding necessary information to Parliament and Treasury.
  • Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals relevant to the division and follow up the progress.
  • Functions related to Regulations and Guides.
    • Amendment of Act of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act on timely demands.
    • Preparation and amendment of Acts related to proposed Pension Scheme for Migrant Workers.
  • Functions related to Cabinet Papers, Cabinet Observations and Cabinet Memoranda relevant to the development functions related to the division.
  • Follow up and progress review of Family Development Plans and Family Care Plans implemented by development officers at district and regional levels.
  • Preparation, implementation and follow up of development projects.
    • Making aware of relevant authorities on the projects to be implemented by Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency under the provisions of the division.
  • Functions related to Family Background Report and Appeal Committee of Family Background Report.
  • Maintenance of Database related to Migrant Workers, update the database and preparation of progress report through it.
    • Summarizing divisional secretariat level, district level and national level.
    • Forwarding progress and data to relevant authorities.
  • Functions related to MoUs .
    • Signing new MoUs.
    • Functions related to existing MoUs.
      • Follow up of progress of existing MoUs.
      • Updating MoUs.
      • Conduct of Technical Committees and Joint Committee meetings and implementation of decisions made.
  • Conduct of Regional Dialogues and Progress Review

    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).

    • Conduct of Senior Officials’ Meetings
    • Conduct of Ministerial Consultations.
    • Improve and share knowledge on Trends of Labor Market, Skill Profile and Migrant Workers, Remittance Policies, Weaknesses and relation to development.
    • Implementation of decisions made at the regional dialogues.
  • Produce reports on issues, suggestions and other matters required by United Nations and related organizations to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
    • CMW
    • CEDAW
    • CRC
  • Functions related to Productivity Improvement.

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.

  • Preparation of Estimates and Budget.
  • Functions related to obtaining additional allocations.
  • FR 66 transfers.
  • Allocations for 331 divisional secretaries and 25 district secretariats.
  • Functions related to Advance B account.
  • Functions related to Advance B account of development officers.
  • Functions related to special advance, distress loan and festival advance of staff of the division.
  • Preparation of Monthly Expenditure Reports.
  • Acceptance of vouchers, posting and maintenance of voucher files.
  • Preparation of Sub-Imprest Register.
  • Preparation of Monthly Bank Reconciliation Statement.
  • Maintenance of Cashbook
  • Making all the payments.
  • Accounting of treasury imprest.
  • Preparation of annual and monthly imprest request.
  • Preparation of accounts on accrual basis by 30th June.
  • Issue of cheques to relevant divisions and related functions.
  • Preparation of explanations for audit queries.
  • Data entry and preparation of account summaries in CIGAS.
  • Functions related to payment of foreign currency for foreign travels of staff.
  • Maintenance of petty cash book.
  • Procurement functions such as call for bids, bid opening, Technical Evaluation Committee, Ministry Procurement Committee, preparation of letters, convey of goods and acceptance and preparation of vouchers for payment related to procurement of stationary, electrical equipment, office furniture and vehicles for the division.
  • Preparation of Name Boards, Letterheads, Greeting Cards, and Franks for staff.
  • Functions related to the procurements of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
  • Functions related to procurements of Migrant Resource Centers. (MRCs)
  • Functions related to Annual Survey, Condemning and producing reports to Auditor General’s Department.
  • Preparation of Fixed Asset Register.
  • Stores Administration and related functions.
  • Preparation of Salaries of staff of the division.
  • Maintenance of CC10.
  • Preparation of Annual Appropriation Account
  • Maintenance of circular file related to finance and treasury.
  • Reconciliation of treasury accounts with division accounts monthly and quarterly.
  • Maintenance of General Deposit Account.
  • Maintenance of General files of the Account Branch.

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.

  • Preparation of Annual Audit Plan of the division.
  • Preparation of Monthly Audit Programme based on the Annual Audit Paln.
  • Preparation of internal audit programmes.
  • Performing internal audits of the division.
  • Performing audits of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency and produce reports.
  • Perform Investigations, Special Investigations and Primary Investigations and produce reports.
  • Draft of charge sheets for formal investigations.
  • Functions related to Audit and Management Committee Meeting of the division.
  • Produce reports requested by Department of Management Audit.
  • Comparison of FBR Recommendation Data of Monthly Progress Reports produced by Development Officers attached to Divisional Secretariats with Central Database Data of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and take necessary actions.
  • Follow up and coordination of produce of explanations for audit queries by the institutions under the purview of the division.
  • Functions related to Committee Of Public Enterprises (COPE).
  • Presence for Audit and Management Committee Meeting of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
  • Produce explanations for audit queries of Auditor General’s Department.
  • Follow up of implementation of recommendations of Committee of Public Accounts.
  • Reference and report to the secretary on the Board Papers of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency.
  • Audit of duties of development officers attached to district and divisional secretariats.
chairman-img
Mr. Suntharam Arumainayaham

Secretary

112330355
secretarymfe@gmail.com
chairman-img
Mr. Suntharam Arumainayaham

Secretary

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.
chairman-img
Hon. Piyankara Jayaratne

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.


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