Private sector labour shortage forces industries to recruit foreign workers: Minister

Colombo, June 30 (Daily Mirror) - Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti has said that the private sector currently has more than 400,000 job vacancies, forcing local industries to recruit foreign workers due to a shortage of both skilled and unskilled labour.

Speaking at a discussion held at the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development today (30), the Minister noted that workers have been recruited from countries including India and China to fill vacancies in several sectors.

He pointed out that labour shortages exist in a wide range of industries, including construction, tiles and accessories, footwear, leather products and the automobile sector.

Minister Handunnetti instructed officials to implement a systematic training programme under the direct supervision of the Ministry to channel rehabilitated youth into these industries and help address the country's labour shortage.