SLFEB tightens rules on foreign job contracts from July 1

Colombo, June 19 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) has announced that it will be mandatory to certify employment agreements with the Sri Lankan Mission in the respective country before registering with the Bureau for self-employment opportunities in non-domestic jobs, under a new service agreement.

The Bureau stated that while the new regulation was initially scheduled to be implemented on June 7, it has now been deferred to July 1 for selected countries. These include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, nations where a large number of Sri Lankan workers are employed.

Although it was previously decided to extend this mandatory certification requirement to all countries for non-domestic employment, the SLFEB Board of Directors, which convened on June 12, 2025, resolved to limit its immediate implementation to these specific countries.

Meanwhile, professionals travelling abroad on their own for jobs in the professional category under a new service agreement will be exempt from this requirement. They will only need to present their passport indicating their professional status or supporting documents proving the nature of their employment when registering with the Bureau.

The SLFEB said this decision was made in response to growing concerns over human trafficking and the difficulties previously faced by Sri Lankan workers overseas. The Bureau aims to ensure greater protection for migrant workers and promote secure employment opportunities abroad through this new regulation.

The Bureau urge all prospective migrant workers and recruitment agencies to adhere to the revised guidelines in order to streamline the foreign employment process and enhance worker safety.