Sri Lanka is preparing a new Foreign Employment Bill while work is also underway to establish a mechanism allowing Sri Lankans living overseas to exercise their voting rights, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Arun Hemachandra said.
Hemachandra revealed the measures while addressing the opening of the ILO STREAM Introductory Training on “Protecting Those Who Move: Advancing Social Protection in the South Asia–Gulf Migration Corridor” in Colombo.
Highlighting measures introduced to strengthen protection for migrant workers, the Acting Minister said death compensation for eligible registered migrant workers had been increased to Rs. 2 million, while work was also progressing on a contributory pension scheme.
He said Sri Lanka’s foreign employment policy should go beyond increasing the number of people securing employment overseas and instead focus on skills development, better job opportunities, safe and regular migration, worker protection and long-term economic security for migrant workers and their families.
Hemachandra also highlighted the use of digital technology to improve services for Sri Lankans employed abroad. The LankaKonect platform, introduced in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), allows migrant workers overseas to lodge complaints, track their cases and access government assistance more directly.
The Acting Minister said migration should provide opportunities rather than leave workers vulnerable, stressing the need for protection throughout the migration process, from preparation and recruitment to employment, social security, return and reintegration.
He also called for stronger cooperation between countries of origin and destination, particularly in areas such as social security, recruitment regulation, family protection and reintegration.
The programme brings together representatives from migrant-worker origin and destination countries with the aim of strengthening cooperation on worker protection and social security. (Newswire)