New Sri Lanka foreign employment law to replace 1985 Act

Colombo, July 21 (Daily Mirror) - The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the drafting of a new law to modernise Sri Lanka’s foreign employment sector and replace the existing Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act, No. 21 of 1985.

The 1985 legislation was introduced to regulate overseas employment activities, protect the rights and welfare of Sri Lankan migrant workers, and promote foreign job opportunities. However, the government has identified the need for a revised legal framework to address changes in the global labour market and the evolving needs of the foreign employment sector.

The proposed new legislation aims to strengthen regulatory mechanisms, improve protections for migrant workers and align Sri Lanka’s foreign employment policies with current national priorities and international standards.

A comprehensive concept paper outlining the required legal and institutional reforms has already been prepared. Based on the recommendations of this paper, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism submitted a proposal requesting the Legal Draftsman to prepare a new bill.