Governance and the Architecture of the Labour
Management System
Lessons learnt in the implementation
of the SL National Labour Migration
Policy
Col. Nissanka N. Wijeratne
Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Employment
Promotion & Welfare
Sri Lanka
Governance & Architecture of
Labour management system
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Institutional Framework
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Legislative Framework
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International Framework
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Regulatory Framework
Institutional Setup
Ministry of Foreign Employment
Promotion & Welfare
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign
Employment (SLBFE)
(Established by Parliament
Act No. 21 of 1985)
Sri Lanka Foreign
Employment Agency
( Established in 1996)
3
Supporting Laws
 Fee charging employment agencies Act No. 37 of 1956 *
 Establishment of Foreign Employment Unit (in 1976) at the
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Ministry of Labour. *
Foreign Employment Agency Act No. 32 of 1980. *
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No. 21 of 1985
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Amendment
Act No. 04 of 1994
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Amendment
Act No. 56 of 2010
4
National Labour Migration
Policy
(Approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in Oct 2008 )
Policy has
3 Goals
Governance
&
Protecting &
Regulation Empowering
of
Migrant
Workers
Migration &
Developme
nt
5
Lessons Learnt in
implementation of NLMP
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Importance of making all stakeholders aware on policy
suggestions & their implementation.
Consultative approach in fixing ownership of various tools
developed as a part of the NLMP through sub committees.
Clearer gender mainstreaming strategies within the labour
migration process to introduce methods to minimize vulnerabilities
Importance of advocacy efforts of civil society actors and trade
unions in strengthening policies and ensuring enhanced practices in
enforcement
Initiatives for introducing sustainability measures that would
eventually build capacities
The recognition of the need to strengthen social security
schemes for migrant workers and ensure they get the full benefits
New Initiatives

Introduced Code of Ethical Conduct for Recruitment Agents

Developed Operational Manual for Labour Welfare Sections
of Sri Lankan Diplomatic Missions in Labour Receiving
Countries
Consultative Forum
Conducted a Certificate Course in Labour Migration and
Operational Procedures for SL Diplomatic Missions in Labour
Receiving Countries

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Standardized (NVQ3) pre-departure training for domestic
house keeping assistants. NVQ for other skilled workers.

Trained staff on effective prevention and settlement of migrant
worker disputes
Studies and Reviews
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Review of Opportunities and Impediments to the
Ratification of ILO Convention 97 and
Convention 189
Review of Recruitment Practices of Employment
Agencies Recruiting Migrant Workers
Desk study of regional good practices of
Recruitment
A sustainable business model for the proposed
Labour Migration Institute
Strengthening Grievance and Complaint
Handling Mechanisms to Address Migrant
Worker
Grievances in Sri Lanka: A Review and Analysis
of Mechanisms
Mapping of Counseling Courses in Sri Lanka
The Way forward
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To improve the access to information for migrant workers to
ensure informed and safe migration.
To Develop a safe migration information booklet to be shared
at Divisional and GN levels to support local level decision
making for migration
To Improve access to justice for women and men migrant
workers and their families by strengthening grievance
addressing mechanisms, ethical recruitment practices and
anti-trafficking measures.
To Develop a national level coordinated grievance referral
system and link same to the SLBFE complaints handling
system,
To Promote the Code of Ethical Conduct among recruitment
agents
The Way forward contd….
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To develop a course for recruitment agents to professionalize the recruitment
industry & reduce exploitation and abuse.
Developing & capacity building of mediation boards and officers for prosecutions
on human trafficking offenses as part of the National anti-trafficking Task force
action plan.
To support the effective reintegration of returnee migrant workers by addressing
selected areas of the reintegration sub-policy to fulfill economic and psychosocial
needs of primarily low skilled workers.
Develop the reintegration model and drafting of the reintegration sub-policy and
supporting selected reintegration interventions. Capacity building of newly
appointed Development Officers attached to Divisional levels.
To share project outcomes at local, national, regional and international levels
among all social partners.
Develop policy briefs and support the government and other stakeholders to
share rich experiences at regional and international levels, facilitate policy
formulation that is informed by local and ground realities.
Introducing a new Act to replace present SLBFE Act, No 21 0f 1985 to address
developments during the last 28 years. Sub agents, Protecting vulnerable groups,
migration bothways.
Thank You