• Those with advanced tech, specialised expertise to be facilitated

The Labour Ministry is set to introduce new regulations governing foreign workers in Sri Lanka, as part of a broader effort to encourage greater participation from the domestic labour force. Concurrently, the Ministry is also launching a programme to facilitate the entry of foreign workers who possess advanced technology and specialised expertise that is not yet available locally.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (2), Ministry Secretary S M Piyatissa said that while various initiatives are already underway to train local workers and integrate them into the labour market, foreign hires will be brought in only in a manner that does not threaten or limit opportunities for Sri Lankan employees. The proposed regulations, he added, are designed to ensure that this balance is maintained.

Among the ongoing efforts, Piyatissa detailed a programme launched by the National Housing Development Authority in collaboration with contractors, which provides uniforms and training for construction workers. He added however that there remain certain sectors where foreign labour will continue to be necessary. Some of these workers, he explained, will be employed on a contract basis and will only remain in Sri Lanka for a limited period.

"However, there are some sectors that utilise technology we don’t yet possess, or require expertise that can’t be expected from our local workforce. We will facilitate such workers within the country," Piyatissa added.

Meanwhile, Industry Minister Sunil Hadunnetti recently told the media that there are approximately 400,000 vacancies in the private sector, which has compelled local industries to recruit foreign workers from countries such as India and China to fill the gaps.