Today, ILO supported the Ministry of Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure and Foreign Employment to facilitate a consultation with key stakeholders of the labour migration sector including members of the National Advisory Committee on Labour Migration to revise the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Act of 1985. Over 40 participants consisting of key government ministry representatives, employers’ organizations including the licensed recruitment agency body ALFEA representatives, trade union members, UN Agencies and civil society organizations engaged constructively to highlight areas to be revised and/or included in the legislation to ensure a more stringent rights-based approach to labour migration in keeping with international standards.

More than 20 recommendations were forwarded to the SLBFE for follow-up action. ILO will continue to support the process till the new legislation is approved by the Cabinet for enactment.