Reforming the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Act: Increasing Protection for Migrant Workers and Employing Lessons from the Philippines

Abstract

With the crucial role labour migrants play in boosting the economy of Sri Lanka, the time is opportune for the government to address the many issues related to the protection of migrants and securing their rights. The reformation of the Foreign Employment Act would be one way of ensuring this. Since the enactment of the present Act in 1985, the migration scenario has seen many changes, and the Act does not address the many problems associated with migrant workers. This paper will give a description of the main provisions of the Act, its flaws, and shortcomings in addressing the grievances of migrants. Additionally it will review Sri Lanka and Filipino Act which is said to be a model for sending countries, and provide recommendations for reformation.