Minister of Foreign Employment Vijitha Herath has urged the public to contact the hotline ‘1989’ for reliable information about private employment agencies when seeking employment opportunities abroad.

The Minister made this statement during the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism held in Parliament recently (Mar. 12).

The Minister was responding to questions raised by Members of Parliament regarding individuals who defraud people by falsely claiming to arrange overseas employment.

During the meeting, Ministry officials informed the Committee that all information regarding the agencies and fees approved by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) can be found on the Bureau’s website.

They further said that if any party charges more than the approved amount or is involved in any process without a license, a complaint can be filed with the SLBFE. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman has issued a notice based on an announcement from the Royal Oman Police, advising against travelling to Oman for employment purposes using a tourist visa. 

The SLBFE has emphasized that a tourist visa cannot be converted into an employment visa, and individuals are prohibited from engaging in employment in Oman via tourist visas.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat has urged job seekers from Sri Lanka to follow only the regulations and guidelines issued by the SLBFE when seeking lawful employment in Oman. 

The Embassy noted an increase in the number of Sri Lankans being stranded in Oman after entering the nation on tourist visas, despite clear instructions from the relevant authorities of both countries.

As per the Royal Oman Police’s announcement, effective from October 31, 2023, it was prohibited to convert a tourist visa into an employment visa, with job seekers urged to avoid entering Oman on a tourist visa.

Furthermore, the Sri Lankan Embassy has advised Sri Lankan nationals already in Oman to leave the country before their visa expires. 

Those who overstay their visas will be subject to additional fees for overstaying imposed by the relevant authorities in Oman before they can leave the country, the Embassy has warned. (Newswire)

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The highest number of departures for foreign employment in the history of Sri Lanka was reported in the year 2024, which was 312,836, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

The SLBFE said that previously the highest number of foreign employment departures was reported in 2022, while in the last six years from 2019 to 2024, a total of 1.3 million people have left for overseas jobs. 

In 2024, a total of 185,162 men and 127,674 women are reported to have left for foreign jobs.

The highest number of Sri Lankan workers left for Kuwait (77,546), while 51,550 left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In comparison to previous years, a high number of Sri Lankans left for foreign jobs in South Korea (7098), Israel (9665), and Japan (8665). 

The Foreign Exchange earned through migrant workers has also shown a significant increase in 2024, with US$ 6462 million reported as of the end of November. (Newswire)

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A total of 28,003 Sri Lankans left overseas for employment in July 2024, it was reported. 

According to a new report by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), 175,163 Sri Lankans left for overseas employment during the first seven months of 2024. 

The CBSL report states that during this period a workers’ remittance of US$ 3,710.8 million was reported by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). 

This was an increase compared to the first seven months of 2023, during which 171,864 had left overseas for employment and a workers’ remittance of US$ 3,363.6 million was recorded. 

As per the report, the highest number of overseas departures for employment was reported in 2014. (Newswire)

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The government has reached an agreement to provide a certain part of the number of foreign employment opportunities received from foreign countries to retired military personnel and family members of deceased war military personnel of Sri Lanka. 

According to a Defence Ministry statement, the programme of providing foreign employment to retired armed forces members and war hero family members commenced on State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon’s initiative.

The Defence Ministry states this foreign employment programme was facilitated after successful discussions State Minister Tennakoon had with Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara.   

The Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment has expressed willingness to provide a certain part of the amount of foreign employment opportunities received by the Government from foreign countries to retired military personnel and family members of deceased war military personnel. 

The representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment had said that as the initial phase of this, a certain amount of construction sector job opportunities will be provided in Israel.

Arrangements are being made to provide loan facilities to expatriates at concessional interest rates through state banks and 67 personnel from the Army have been identified to be sent for these jobs. 

Further, instructions have been given to Navy and Air Force authorities to call for nominations from prospective personnel. 

It was also informed that retired tri-forces members under the age of 44 years will be selected and they will have to undergo a brief training through the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment and also face an examination conducted by them.

The measures taken as per the agreement were outlined during a meeting to educate Tri Forces personnel on the foreign employment programme that was held under the patronage of State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon on Tuesday (June 04). (Newswire)

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Officials of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) have been instructed to enforce the law against individuals fraudulently collecting money under the guise of providing foreign employment opportunities.

The directive was issued on Wednesday (Apr 24) by Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, Manusha Nanayakkara to the officials of the SLBFE’s investigation department.

According to a Foreign Employment Ministry statement, the minister also instructed officials to take necessary measures to prevent any activities related to collecting money while falsely claiming to provide foreign employment opportunities. 

He further informed the top management of the SLBFE to provide necessary facilities for conducting thorough investigations into illegal money collection under the guise of offering foreign employment opportunities.

Minister Nanayakkara noted that complaints have been received regarding an incident involving a Police Sergeant and a Buddhist monk near Anuradhapura, fraudulently collecting money while claiming to provide foreign jobs.

According to discussions with the investigative team attached to the ministry, the minister informed that anyone who has faced such an incident should file a complaint with the SLBFE’s complaint section to initiate legal action against the parties mentioned in the complaint.

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara emphasized that only licensed foreign employment agencies are authorized to receive payments for foreign employment, assuring that action would be taken against the suspects involved in this incident based on the received complaints.

“We receive complaints about money being collected under false promises of providing foreign employment opportunities on a daily basis. In response, we have assembled a comprehensive investigation team to discuss and make decisions on these matters.

“Recently, we received an anonymous complaint concerning an Israeli job scam. It was reported that approximately six hundred individuals were brought to a specific temple near Anuradhapura, with the involvement of the temple’s chief incumbent. Additionally, a person claiming to be from the police collected money under the guise of conducting medical tests. We do not disclose the name of the monk, the police station, or the area. However, if anyone has been involved in such an incident or has given money to someone under these circumstances, please visit the SLBFE promptly to file a complaint.

“If anyone has paid money to secure a foreign employment opportunity, we urge them to come to the SLBFE immediately and submit complaints to our investigation department. If anyone has made such payments, please come forward and file a complaint as soon as possible. These complaints are crucial for taking legal action against offenders.

“We have received information from various sources related to Anuradhapura regarding this matter. However, we have not yet received formal complaints. Therefore, it is crucial to submit proper complaints promptly. If you have been a victim of such a scam, regardless of your status, please visit the SLBFE and file a complaint,” he urged the public. (Newswire)

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Over 200,000 Sri Lankans have left for foreign employment as of yesterday (Sep 03), according to the  Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). 

The SLBFE stated that a total of 200,026 persons registered with the Bureau have left for overseas employment so far this year.

The highest departure for foreign employment was recorded in 2022, with a total of 311,000 Sri Lankans having left the country.

The SLBFE estimates that over 300,000 persons will leave for overseas employment this year as well. (NewsWire)

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