Annual Statistical Report of Foreign Employment
2007
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment
This is the twelfth in the series of annual statistical report published by the Sri Lanka Bureau of
Foreign Employment that provides a continuous review of the trend and development of the
foreign employment industry in Sri Lanka.
Research Division,
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment,
234, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mw;
Koswatta,
Battaramulla,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: 0112-864116
E-mail: mgr_res @ slbfe. lk
PREFACE
The Annual Statistical Report is a product of the Research Division of the Sri Lanka Bureau of
Foreign Employment. (SLBFE). This report is compiled annually by using the available data at
the Information Technology Division of the SLBFE and various other data sources including
publications, with the view to provide useful information to the policy planners, researchers and
others who are interested on statistics performing to migration. This report provides statistics
including brief analytical review on foreign employment.
ISSN 1800-0754
Publisher:
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment,
234, Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mw;
Kosswatta,
Battaramulla.
Sri Lanka.
Telephone
Fax
E-mail
Web
:
:
:
:
Guidance
:
011-2864116
011-2864116
mgr_res @ slbfe.lk
www.slbfe.lk
M.M.Deshapriya - Manager (Research)
Analysis Presentation,
Isharika K. Wickramasinghe
Graphic Designing & Data Collection
Isharika K. Wickramasinghe
Sujee Gunasekara
____________________________________________________________________
Printed at the……………………………..and published by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment,
Research Division, 234, Denzilkobbekaduwa Mawatha, Koswatta, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, on 07th of March 2008.
CONTENTS

Introduction
i-iii

Highlights
iv-vi

Departures for Foreign Employment 1986-2007*
01-02

Departures for Foreign Employment Through Direct & Registered Sources by Sex1997-2007*
03

Male Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels 1994 - 2007*
04

Female Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels 1994 - 2007*
05

Total Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels 1994 - 2007*
06

Comparison of Male Migrant Workers, Housemaids & Other Female Migrant Workers1996-2007*08

Arrivals of Sri Lankans (Unclassified) at the Air-Port Colombo 2001-2007*
09

Departures of Sri Lankans for All Purposes from Air-Port Colombo 2001-2007*
09

Total Departures for Foreign Employment by Country 2003-2007*
10-12

Departures for Foreign Employment by Country & Manpower Level -2007*
13-14

Departures for Foreign Employment by Country & Sex 2003-2007*
15

Departures for Foreign Employment through Registered Sources by Country 2003-2007*
16

Departures for Foreign Employment through Direct Sources by Country 2003-2007*
17

Male Departures for Professional Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
18

Female Departures for Professional Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
19

Male Departures for Middle Level Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
20

Female Departures for Middle Level Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
21

Male Departures for Clerical & Related Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
22

Female Departures for Clerical & Related Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
23

Male Departures for Skilled Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
24

Female Departures for Skilled Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
25

Male & Female Departures for Semi Skilled Jobs by Countries 2007*
26

Male Departures for Unskilled Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
27

Female Departures for Unskilled Jobs by Countries 2003-2007*
28

Female Departures as Housemaids by Countries 2003 -2007*
29

Departures for Foreign Employment by Districts 2003-2007*
30

Departures for Foreign Employment by District & Country 2007*
31-33

Departures for Foreign Employment by District & Sex (Map) 2007*
34

Departures for Foreign Employment by District & Manpower Levels 2007*
35

Departures for Foreign Employment by District & Manpower Levels (Map) 2007*
36

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*-Colombo District
37

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*-Gampaha District
38

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*-Kalutara District
39

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*-Kandy District
40

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Matale District
41

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Nuwara Eliya District
42

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Galle District
43

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Matara District
44

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Hambantota District
45

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Jaffna District
46

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Mannar District
47

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Vavuniya District
47

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Mulativu District
48

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Batticaloa District
48

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Ampara District
49

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Trincomalee District
49

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Kurunegala District
50

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Puttalam District
51

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Anuradhapura District
52

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Polonnaruwa District
53

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Badulla District
54

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Monaragala District
55

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Ratnapura District
56

Departures for Foreign Employment by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007*- Kegalle District
57

Departures for Foreign Employment by District, Age Groups & Sex - 2007*
58

Departures for Foreign Employment trough All Sources by Age Groups & Sex 2005 -2007*
59

Departures for Professional Level Jobs by Age Groups & Sex 2005-2007*
60

Departures for Middle Level Jobs by Age Groups & Sex 2005-2007*
60

Departures for Clerical & Related Jobs by Age Groups & Sex 2005-2007*
61

Departures for Skilled Jobs by Age Groups & Sex 2005-2007*
61

Departures for Semi Skilled Jobs by Age Groups & Sex 2005-2007*
62

Departures for Unskilled Jobs by Age Groups & Sex 2005-2007*
62

Female Departures for Domestic Sector Employment by Age Groups 2005-2007*
63-64

Estimated Stock of Sri Lankan Overseas Contract Workers by Country & Sex 2007
65

Estimated Stock of Sri Lankan Overseas Contract Workers by Manpower Levels & Sex 2007
66

Estimated Stock of Sri Lankan Overseas Contract Workers by Districts 2007
67

Participations of Training Programme on Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment’s
Training Centres in Year 2007*
68

Complaints Received by Country and Sex in year 2004-2007*
69

Complaints Received by Nature and Sex in year 2004-2007*
70

Complaints Received from Male Migrant Workers by Manpower Levels as a Percentage of
Departures for Manpower Levels in Year 2004-2007*

71
Complaints Received from Female Migrant Workers by Manpower Levels as a Percentage of
Departures for Manpower Levels in Year 2004-2007*
72

No. Of Complaints Received & Compensation payment of the Settlement in Year 1994-2007*
73

Number of Licensed Agencies in Year 1985-2007*
74

Ratio of Prevailing Licensed Recruitment Agencies by District in Year 2006 -2007*
75

Distribution of Licensed Recruitment Agencies by District (Map)- 2007
76

Number of Job Vacancies & Number of Departures through Registered Agencies1990-2007*
77

Recruitment Agencies who sent more than 100 workers in 2007*
78-85

Job Vacancies & Departures 2006-2007*
86-116

Job Vacancies & Departures trough Registered Sources by Manpower Level 2003 - 2007*
116

Scholarships Granted for Children of Migrant Workers in Year 1996-2007*
117

School Equipments Presented for Children of Migrant Workers in Year 1997-2007*
118

Repatriation of Stranded Workers in Year 2004-2007*
119

Reported Deaths of Migrant Workers in Year 2004-2007*
119

Migration for Foreign Employment and Labour Force 1992-2007*
120

Private Remittances (Rs. Million) 1991-2007*
120

Private Remittances and Foreign Earnings (Rs. Million) during the Year 1990-2007*
121

Insurance Compensation payments during the Year 1995-2007*
122

Facts to be Remembered 2002-2007*
123

Basic Indicator of Labour Receiving Countries.
124-126
INTRODUCTION
Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment was established in 1985 under
the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act No.21 of 1985. Since
then it had been functioning under the Ministry of Labour, for promotion,
development and regularization of the industry, and providing protection
of Sri Lanakan employees’ abroad and their families. Presently it functions
under the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare.
According to the Act, the Bureau has to fulfil 19 distinct objects with
regard to the industry of foreign employment. Major factors that influence
Sri Lankans to work abroad are, low per-capita income, unemployment or
underemployment, high inflation, indebtedness, lack of systems for
making use of resources to survive etc;
It is estimated that population of Sri Lankan employees working abroad is
approximately 1.6 Million. Recorded sources of foreign exchange earnings
show that such employees earned Rs. 276,814 Million in 2007 which was
35.76% of total foreign exchange earnings of the country. Today Foreign
Employment Industry has become the highest net earner of foreign
exchange to the country.
Number of Sri Lankans who were employed outside Sri Lanka rapidly
increased after the decisions was taken at the Non Alignment Conference
in 1976 to grant more job opportunities that were available in the Middle
East region, to Asian countries, which had labor surpluses. This initiative
was strengthened subsequently as a result of introduction of liberalized
economic policies to the country in 1977. Since then the number of
labourers proceeded for foreign employment increased gradually. Middle
Eastern countries still remain as the major market for Sri Lankan labour
since late 1970. Available statistics reveal that the Foreign Employment
Industry has been growing steadily since 1980. Furthermore, it shows
strong signs of continuity.
According to the records available at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign
Employment, present outflow is over 200,000 per annum. Implementation
of welfare packages for Sri Lankan employees abroad and their family
members along with the compulsory registration system declined the rate
of obtaining foreign employment illegally and undocumentarily, up to
around 10 per cent.
i
Out of the Sri Lankan labour force proceeded for employment during the
past decade 70 percent of labour had been exported in the category of
unskilled sector of which nearly 72 percent had been female domestic
workers. Despite the fact that domestic employment generated substantial
amount of foreign exchange, to incur in the social cost and related
problems, it also hampered optimum contribution of benefits to the
economic development in the country. More over unskilled labour is
poorly paid and has a limited bargaining power in labour markets.
Middle Eastern countries face an acute shortage of skilled labor in their
labor markets. Hence, there is a huge demand for skilled labour in Middle
Eastern and they are paid higher salaries than unskilled workers.
However, Sri Lanka has failed to cater for this demand due to shortage of
skilled labour.
Unemployment in general and male unemployment in particular is a
burning issue in Sri Lanka today. The country presently experiences 4.5
percent unemployment rate. In the circumstances exploiting employment
opportunities for skilled labour in the Middle East market has a high
demand today. Attention of all players of the industry and policy planners
should be focused on this strategic exercise.
Because of the uneven availability of published information on providing
employment abroad in different regions, it is not always been possible to
present entire global picture of certain aspects of labour employment
abroad. It is observed that flow of Sri Lankan employees for the labour
receiving countries in the globe is vividly made. However it endeavored
to provide a complete account of characteristic features of foreign
employment industry in Sri Lanka by publishing this report, as it would
be a great advantage to the general public as well as to the parties
concerned and involved in this new and challenging sphere.
It is seen that there is an increase in the total departures for foreign
employment in 2007, compared with 2006. It also reveals that, in 2007,
total departures for foreign employment were 217,306.
ii
The share of females, which was 24 percent during the period of 1986-87,
had been increased from 55 percent in 1988 to 75 percent in 1997, and now
it has been increased to 53 per cent in 2007.
In the case of males, this share was 47 per cent in 2007, and dropped to 25
percent in 1997, and now it fluctuates around 47 per cent.
iii
Highlights

Foreign employment industry continued its rank as the second largest earner of foreign
exchange in the Sri Lankan economy.

The actual number of departures of 217,306 during the year 2007 was being the number
projected of 250,000.

The female participation for foreign employment was 52.77% , out of total departures
during the year 2007.

Total number of departures for foreign employment has increased by 7.6% from 201,948
in 2006 to 217,306 in 2007. (Male: 102,629 Female: 114,677)

Most of females who departed for year 2007 were housemaids. It was 89.10% of total
female migrant workers.

Private remittances for year 2007 have 250,200 Million Rupees.

Recorded sources of foreign exchange earnings shows that migrant workers for Middle
Eastern remitted 160,502 Million Rupees in 2007 out of total private remittances. It was
57.98% of all remittances.
iv

Departures for foreign employment per day were 595 during the year.

The number of registered licensed foreign employment agencies was increased from 607
up to 691 in year 2007.

Saudi Arabia., Kuwait, U.A.E, Qatar and Lebanon were the major labor receiving
countries that has captured over 82% of Sri Lanka labour market.

Recruitment of male categories has increased by 13.82% over year 2006.

90% of employees working abroad were in the Middle Eastern countries.

The numbers of job orders received by recruiting agent were 889,042 in year 2007 and it
was an increase by 23% over year 2006.

The departures for foreign employment through direct sources (self registration) were
71,275 and it was an increase by 17% over year 2006 while registered sources were 146,
031.(83%)

Majority of recruitments for foreign employment was reported from Colombo district.
v

420 Agencies out of 691 valid foreign employment agencies are located in Colombo
district.

The number of complaints received during the year 2007 was decreased by 2,384
complaints and it was 22% of total recruitment.

Raids of illegal recruiting agencies were 51 in year 2007.

The amount of insurance paid to workers was RS. 132,030,262 in year 2007.

The number of pre-departure loans was 660 in year 2007.

The number of self-employment loans given by Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign
Employment was 17 in year 2007.

Number of deaths reported during the year 2007 was 277. It was an increase by 5.3%
over year 2006.
vi