Introduction

Employment and Welfare

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) was established under the Act No. 21 of 1985 and is the sole authority regulating foreign employment in Sri Lanka. The Act stipulates objectives with regard to Sri Lankans employed outside Sri Lanka under a temporary work agreement. Under the Act, the SLBFE undertakes measures to regulate and streamline the process of labour migration, i.e., the protection and welfare of Sri Lankans working outside Sri Lanka and their families.

Employment for Sri Lankan workers in the Republic of Korea is provided under the Employment Permit System (EPS) implemented by the Korean Government in addition to the recruitment under E7 Visa categories by recruiting agent and E 8 Seasonal Workers for counties under the Government-to-Government arrangements. The first bilateral agreement (MOU) under EPS was signed between the Governments of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea in 2004. There are approximately 30,000 Sri Lankan employees working in various sectors in Korea, i.e., manufacturing, construction and fisheries, in Korea under EPS.

The Employment and Welfare Section of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Korea ensures the welfare and protection of Sri Lankan migrant workers in Korea while implementing programs for promoting job opportunities for Sri Lankans. Accordingly, the section provides the following services. 

Service Functions of Employment and Welfare

• Maintaining close relations with the Ministry of Employment and Labour in Korea, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, the Ministry of Justice, the National Pension Service of Korea, recruiting agent, Counties and Migrant support Centres etc. to ensure the welfare of Sri Lankan workers and to resolve issues arising from time to time.
• Renewal of SLBFE Registration of Sri Lankan employees.
• Handling complaints received from Sri Lankan employees in Korea , and Next of Kin (NoK) in Sri Lanka through the SLBFE.
• Visiting hospitals to support Sri Lankan employees under medical care following illnesses and accidents.
• Visiting prisons, courts, immigration authorities and the police as relevant to extend support to Sri Lankan employees serving jail terms or awaiting trial.
• Providing assistance for the immediate repatriation of employees to their home country due to medical or other reasons,  for obtaining pension benefits from the National Pension Service of Korea, as well as insurance benefits and compensation under insurance schemes in both the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka (under the SLBFE’s programmes)
• Receiving employees on arrival at the airport.
• Conducting orientation and awareness programmes for employees on arrival and during the course of their stay in Korea to provide information on living and working conditions in Korea as well as safety and vocational information.
• Conducting mobile consular and welfare services in regions outside Seoul with the Consular Section of the Embassy.
• Visiting companies employing Sri Lankan workers in order to establish good relations with employers, to promote Sri Lanka, and to ascertain the living and working conditions of Sri Lankan employees.
• Visiting Sri Lankan employees who are victims of industrial and other accidents to facilitate medical and other support and compensation, as well as to assess and report on such incidents to enhance preventive measures.

• Conducting employment promotion programmes for Sri Lankans in Korea under E9, E7 and E8 visa categories.