The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), and ICMPD through the Migrant Information Centre (MIC), convened today government institutions and recruitment agencies to advance safe, fair and ethical labour migration recruitment. Participating stakeholders discussed transparency, compliance, and practical cooperation to protect Sri Lankan migrant workers and job seekers.
The gathering in Colombo sought to promote ethical recruitment norms and standards among [recruitment] agencies in Sri Lanka; and enhance operational capacities, including on the risks of irregular migration, fraudulent recruitment, dangers of using the services of smugglers, and the risks related to trafficking of human beings. It also aimed to raise awareness and strengthen cooperation and case management among the government, recruitment agencies and the MIC on safe, fair, and ethical labour recruitment.
Labour migration remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka's economy, and a source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of families across our country. Protecting our migrant workers, therefore, is not simply a matter of labour policy. It is a matter of national dignity and of human rights. Sri Lanka's standing as a responsible country of origin depends directly on the credibility and the ethical conduct of our recruitment sector.Dr Sugath Yalegama, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, emphasised in his opening remarks.
The Ministry, together with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, remains firmly committed to strengthening the regulatory frameworks that govern recruitment agencies; to ensuring fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices; and to building stronger cooperation between government, recruitment agencies, and partners such as MIC Sri Lanka.Dr Yalegrama added.
Dr Yalegrama was joined by Mr Nikaril Kanth, Senior Assistant Secretary; and Ms Sonya Douglas, Counsellor and Irregular Migration Liaison Officer at the New Zealand High Commission in Colombo. They highlighted the importance of transparent recruitment, regulatory compliance and stronger cooperation to protect prospective migrant workers and their families.
The programme reviewed changing global labour migration dynamics, emerging employment opportunities and Sri Lanka’s national policies, regulations and services. It also considered the role of private employment agencies in a holistic migration-governance system that supports migrants before departure, during employment abroad and following return and reintegration.
Discussions focused on risks linked to fraudulent job advertisements, unregistered intermediaries, unofficial payments, unclear or substituted contracts, passport retention and misuse of visa categories. Participants considered how verified job offers, transparent fees, clear contracts, responsible handling of personal documents and effective complaint and referral mechanisms can reduce these risks.
New Zealand believes that migration should be safe, informed, regular and beneficial to migrants, their families and the countries involved. Fair and ethical recruitment is central to achieving this objective. Recruitment agencies can [also] protect migrants by ensuring that personal documents are handled responsibly, unofficial payments are prevented, and prospective workers are not misled by unregistered intermediaries.Ms Douglas said at the event.
The programme also introduced European labour migration pathways and provided practical guidance on relevant directives, work-permit and residence arrangements, sectors in demand and the use of ICMPD’s Legal Pathways interactive tool. A plenary discussion explored the challenges faced by recruitment agencies and the policies, partnerships and resources needed to promote responsible recruitment practices.
After the plenary discussions and group workshops, Ms. Golda Roma from ICMPD identified the various potential areas of cooperation among government agencies, MIC and the recruitment agencies such as enhancing pre-departure and soft skills training for migrants, conducting joint job fairs to promote proper recruitment, and involving recruitment agencies in the awareness raising and community education.
The programme was organised under MIC Sri Lanka Phase II, funded by the Government of New Zealand and co-funded by the Government of Switzerland, and implemented by ICMPD in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
About MIC Sri Lanka
The Migrant Information Centre (MIC) Sri Lanka provides free, accessible and reliable information, counselling, community awareness and referral support to prospective migrants, migrant workers, returnees and their families. Established in 2024 and co-located with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment in Batticaloa, MIC Sri Lanka works with government institutions, frontline officers, civil society and communities to support informed decisions, safe and regular migration pathways, and protection from exploitation.
