BANGgKOK Sri Lanka and Thailand further strengthened bilateral cooperation in the field of labour with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Labour Cooperation and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the Employment of Sri Lankan Workers in Thailand today, 14 September 2026, in Bangkok.
The two instruments were signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Herath, and the Minister of Labour of Thailand, Julapun Amornvivat. The agreements follow sustained negotiations between the relevant authorities of the two countries and establish a structured and transparent framework for the recruitment and employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand, while promoting their rights, welfare and protection.
The signing marks an important milestone in the expansion of safe, regular and mutually beneficial labour mobility between Sri Lanka and Thailand. The Thai Cabinet has approved the recruitment of an initial 10,000 Sri Lankan workers through the established legal framework to address labour shortages in Thailand. The MoU provides a framework for cooperation in areas including labour policies and practices, labour market information, skills development, labour productivity, labour protection, and the prevention of illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The MoA establishes the practical arrangements for the recruitment and employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand, including transparent recruitment procedures, employment contracts, legal protection, welfare, visas and work permits, as well as return and repatriation arrangements. Together, the two instruments provide a comprehensive framework to facilitate the orderly employment of Sri Lankan workers while safeguarding their rights and welfare.
Minister Herath appreciated the opportunity given by the Royal Thai Government, for Sri Lankan workers to seek employment in Thailand and emphasised the importance of ensuring their rights, welfare and social security. He also highlighted the need to establish a Joint Working Group to monitor and review the implementation of the agreements. In this context, Minister Herath also sought Thailand’s consideration of expanding employment opportunities for Sri Lankan nationals, particularly the youth, in the IT and tourism sectors, which could provide new avenues for skilled employment and contribute to the development of Sri Lanka’s youth workforce.
Minister Julapun stated that the Sri Lankan workers employed under this framework will enjoy equal rights and protection under Thai labour law, including legally mandated wages, benefits and health care. Beyond worker recruitment and employment, the MOU also provides a foundation for broader labour cooperation, to strengthen the workforce of both countries in line with future labour market and economic developments.
The Government of Sri Lanka views Thailand and the wider Southeast Asian region as important emerging destinations for Sri Lankan workers, as Sri Lanka continues to explore and diversify new labour markets for its nationals. The similarities in social and cultural characteristics between Sri Lanka and many Southeast Asian countries are expected to enable Sri Lankan workers to adapt more readily to their new working and living environments.
The establishment of structured employment opportunities in Thailand is therefore an important step towards diversifying Sri Lanka’s foreign employment destinations, expanding opportunities for skilled workers and professionals, particularly youth, and further strengthening the longstanding and multifaceted relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand.
