Sri Lanka and Thailand are preparing bilateral labour agreements to establish a structured framework for worker recruitment, employment and repatriation. The initiative could facilitate jobs for Sri Lankans while strengthening welfare, security and anti-trafficking safeguards.
Sri Lanka and Thailand are preparing to formalise bilateral cooperation on labour mobility after Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved proposals for a five-year agreement on labour cooperation and a separate agreement covering the employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand. The agreements are intended to establish a structured framework for recruitment, worker deployment and repatriation.
Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said the proposed instruments will establish formal cooperation between the competent authorities of the two countries. They are also expected to provide mechanisms for sending and bringing back Sri Lankan workers while strengthening safeguards related to their legal rights, welfare and security.
Also Read: Balancing Labor Costs and Quality in Asia's Manufacturing Industry
The framework is designed to support safe and regulated labour migration and address risks associated with irregular recruitment and human trafficking. By establishing government-to-government coordination, Sri Lanka and Thailand aim to improve transparency in the recruitment and employment process and ensure greater accountability among relevant authorities.
The agreements build on negotiations completed earlier in 2026 between the two countries. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said the draft Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation and the Agreement on the Employment of Sri Lankan Workers in Thailand had been finalised following discussions between officials from both governments. The texts were then to be submitted for necessary approvals before signing.
The bilateral initiative also follows Thailand’s approval of a pilot programme to recruit 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to address labour shortages. The planned recruitment covers sectors including construction, agriculture and livestock, food and beverage, industry, educational institutions, aquatic-animal processing and mining.
The proposed labour framework could create new employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers while supporting Thailand’s demand for workers in sectors experiencing shortages. For Sri Lanka, formal overseas employment channels are also significant for expanding access to regulated migration opportunities and improving protections for workers abroad.
Also Read: Impact of Cultural and Language Differences on Business in Asia
The two agreements are expected to strengthen institutional coordination between Sri Lankan and Thai labour authorities, covering areas such as recruitment procedures, worker welfare and the return of employees after completion of employment. Such arrangements can also help reduce the risks associated with unregulated intermediaries and improve access to legal remedies for migrant workers.
Sri Lanka has increasingly focused on strengthening its overseas employment framework, including efforts to modernise legislation governing foreign employment and improve protections for migrant workers.
The agreements with Thailand therefore represent a step toward establishing a more predictable and regulated labour corridor between the two countries, while supporting employment opportunities and safeguarding the rights of Sri Lankan workers.