September 02, Colombo (LNW): Efforts to formalise a large-scale labour recruitment initiative between Sri Lanka and Thailand have moved forward, with senior officials from both nations holding key discussions aimed at finalising a bilateral agreement.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, recently met with Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of Thailand’s Department of Employment, to assess the status of a proposed Government-to-Government (G-to-G) framework that would facilitate the recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to the Thai labour market.
The conversation marked a significant follow-up to the Ambassador’s prior meeting with the Thai Minister of Labour and the subsequent endorsement by the Thai Cabinet to open new employment pathways for Sri Lankans. The initiative is part of Thailand’s broader strategy to address its labour shortages through structured international cooperation.
During the meeting, Ambassador Edirisinghe presented a preliminary draft of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), prepared by the Sri Lankan government. She encouraged Thai officials to review the document and provide any suggestions or revisions, clarifying that finalisation of the agreement would depend on formal Cabinet endorsement in Colombo.
Director General Morakotsriwan responded positively, stating that the draft MoU would be examined by the relevant Thai authorities and would undergo scrutiny by the Ministry of Labour before any formal decisions are made.
Ambassador Edirisinghe underscored Sri Lanka’s extensive experience in labour migration, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. She pointed to the successful integration of Sri Lankan workers in countries including Japan, South Korea, and Israel, emphasising the nation’s readiness to supply a disciplined, skilled workforce.
She also stressed the importance of safeguarding the rights and welfare of workers once deployed, suggesting that both countries could jointly establish robust mechanisms for oversight and support.
The Thai authorities reaffirmed their interest in enhancing cooperation with Sri Lanka in the area of labour mobility. They expressed a commitment to ensuring that any recruitment process under the proposed arrangement would be transparent, ethical, and beneficial to both sending and receiving countries.
