NPP posts US$8bn remittance record; US$4.75bn in H1

The Government on Wednesday warned prospective migrant workers not to pay illegal brokers demanding between Rs. 4 million and Rs. 4.5 million for jobs in Israel, stressing that licensed private foreign employment agencies are legally permitted to charge no more than the equivalent of two months' salary as their service fee.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that job seekers should avoid unscrupulous intermediaries and report any illegal demands, as the Government had stepped up efforts to curb corruption and malpractice in the foreign employment sector.

The Minister said a special investigation unit, comprising officers of the Criminal Investigation Department and other relevant authorities, had been established to investigate complaints against foreign employment agencies and eliminate corrupt practices.
Herath also announced that the Government would shortly present a new Foreign Employment Act to Parliament to strengthen the rights and protection of Sri Lankan migrant workers by addressing shortcomings in the existing legal framework.
He said the Government was also working to introduce overseas voting rights and a contributory pension scheme for Sri Lankans employed abroad.
To improve access to official assistance, the Government has launched the "Lanka Konnect" website and mobile application, enabling Sri Lankans living overseas to lodge complaints and grievances from anywhere in the world.
The Minister said compensation payable to the families of Sri Lankan workers who die while employed overseas had been increased from Rs. 600,000 to Rs. 2 million.
Highlighting the sector's contribution to the economy, Herath said Sri Lanka had received a record US$8 billion in worker remittances during the Government's first year in office, while remittances totalled US$4.75 billion during the first six months of 2026.
He added that a new training centre for youth in the Northern Province would be established, while fresh employment opportunities had been secured in Japan for truck drivers, construction workers and graduates through bilateral agreements.
Herath also said longstanding issues relating to the recognition of local driving licences had been resolved, paving the way for more Sri Lankans to seek employment in Italy.