5th ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labour Migration in Asia, January 2015, Shanghai, PRC

Presentation on Labour Migration Infrastructure

and Services in Origin Countries:

Sri Lanka
The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the
Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments they
represent. ADBI does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any
consequences of their use. Terminology used may not necessarily be consistent with ADB official terms.

Migrant Workers: Pivotal Group

Year

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1976-78

1972-75

No of Persons

Migration of Labour

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

National Policy for

Labour Migration
Policy has
3 Goals
Governance &
Regulation

Migration &
Development
Protecting &
Empowering
of
Migrant
Workers
4

1
Governance of Migration Process
Institutional Framework
Define the role of Agencies
Advisory Committee
Strengthening SLBFE
Island wide Admin. network
Foreign Missions
Legislative Frame work
SLBEF ACT
Clear Guide Lines & Law
International Frame work
Ratification ILO Migrant
worker Conventions (C97,C143)
Regulatory Frame work
Market Surveys market
analysis
Training Plan & relationships
with other training Institutes
Bilateral Agreement s
Model Contracts
Salary Structure
Complaint Handling System

2
Protection of MW
Pre Departure Stage
Governance
of
Migration
Process
Main
Objectives of
National
Labour
Migration
Policy

Migration and
Development

Awareness programmes
Information Services
Pre departure Trainings
Best Practices in recruitment

Protecting
&
Empowering
Migrant
workers &
Their
Families
2

In Service Stage

Support services through SL Labour

Missions abroad
Protection and welfare
Of left behind families of MW

Return & Reintegration Stage

Livelihood development assistance

Linking returnees with business entities

Migration & Development

3 Employment Opportunities

New Market Development Plan

Penetrate the Existing Markets
Promotional Activities through
Missions
Promotion of Skilled worker
migration
Remittances Development

Governance of Labour Migration

Ministry of Foreign Employment

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign

Employment (SLBFE)
(Established by Parliament Act No.
21 of 1985)

Sri Lanka Foreign

Employment Agency
( Established in 1996)

Steering Committee on
Labour Migration

Ministry of Foreign Employment

Ministry of Skills Development
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment
Ministry of Labour
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of External Affairs
Department of Immigration & Emigration
National Planning Department
Child Development Authority
Information Department
Representatives of Trade Unions
University academea
Recruitment Agency Associations
Civil Society Organizations
International & Local NGOs
Other Ministries And Departments on invitation

TVET Sector
Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (www.tvec.gov.lk)
University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC)
(http://www.univotech.ac.lk)
Department of Technical Education and Training (DTET)(
http://www.techedu.gov.lk)
National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA)
(http://www.naita.slt.lk/)
Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA)( http://www.vtasl.gov.lk)
National Youth Services Council (NYSC)( http://www.nysc.slt.lk)
Ceylon-German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI)
(http://www.cgtti.slt.lk)

Sri Lanka Bureau Of Foreign

Employment
*

SLBFE was established in 1985 by the act no; 21 of 1985 to control,

supervise and monitor private sector recruitments.
* To look after welfare and protection of the migrant workers.
* To be vigilant and to take measures for the smooth functioning of this
sector.
* To register all migrant workers so that the government can supervise the
outflow and inflow of it's labor force.
This 1985 Act was amended in1994 and in 2009 October to introduce new
regulations to meet new developments.

Strategic objectives of SLBFE

Employment Promotion
Develop and implement programmes to acquire more employment opportunities in existing
markets while approaching new markets

Development of skills
Provide flexible, high-quality trainings and awareness programmes to migrant workers and
make licensed agents more professional for gaining competitive advantage in global market
through knowledge sharing

Protection & Welfare

Implement necessary measures to protect and also to enhance welfare of migrant workers
and their families.

Overseas support
Create conducive working environment for Sri Lankan migrant workers.

Regulation
Ensure best practices of licensed recruitment agencies as per the set regulations of the
government

Good Governance
Govern human & other resources to improve the quality of the service
Facilitate formulation of new policies that may occur due to frequent changes in the industry

Customers (Migrant Workers/Family Members/Agents)

Pre-Departure

In Service

Upon Return

Research/ Information Services

Publicity/Mkt
Publicity & Public Relations

Training of MW

Foreign Relations

Licensing of Agents

Welfare of left behind

First Approval

Conciliation

Welfare of MW
Reintegration

Job Contract s
Final Approval

Special Investigation
Legal Action

Satisfied Customers (Migrant Workers/Family Members/Agents)

We make them aware on safe

migration .

Trainings for more confidence

Physical Fitness is important

Shelters for Migrant workers

We care their health

Scholarships for their Children

We look after their children

A place for Comfort

(Sahana Piyasa)

Settling disputes

14,000
12,000

No. of Complaints

10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
Year

No. of Complaints Received

No. of Complaints Settled

Conciliation Matters
Process in Summary

Less Time

Effectively

Recent Developments
Establishment of Island wide Administration
network covering entire Divisional secretariats
Establishment of Migrant Worker Organization
A model Day Care centre for children of
Migrant Workers
Upgrade House maid trainings to House
keeping Assistants with NVQ standards
Multi media based language labs to improve
language Competency (with BC approved certification)

Recent Developments contd

Web based system for efficient recruitment
Establishment of special Migrant Resource
Centres (MRC)
Construction of houses for Migrant Workers
Information sharing on travel movements
Policy for Re-integration

Migration Management contd..

Grading of both local & foreign licensed
recruitment agents for good services for MW
Code of conduct for local recruitment agents
Introduction of a new Act for migration
Quality Assurance with ISO certification
Operational guidelines for overseas labour
migration

Way Forward
Regular training on entrepreneur training for
returnees
Assistance in re-employability bridging skill
gaps through appropriate trainings
Recognition for skills gained through RPL
Directing to work sites where the experience
gained is applicable (Happy Return
Programme EPS)

Way Forward.
Educate migrant workers on useful savings of
their earnings (prior to migration) with the
assistance of commercial banks
Liaise with Finance & Insurance companies to
secure the earnings of returnees and make
use them optimally for the benefit of the
families
Social security scheme is proposed