Thailand will offer an initial 10,000 employment opportunities to Sri Lankan workers under a new framework for labour cooperation and employment, following the signing of two agreements between Sri Lanka and Thailand in Bangkok yesterday (14).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Labour Cooperation and the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the Employment of Sri Lankan Workers in Thailand were signed by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Thailand’s Minister of Labour Julapun Amornvivat.
The agreements establish a structured, transparent and legally regulated framework for the recruitment and employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand, with safeguards to protect their rights, welfare and interests.
Minister Vijitha Herath welcomed the new employment opportunities and emphasized that the expansion of foreign employment should go hand in hand with strong protection of workers’ rights, fair recruitment practices, decent working conditions and worker welfare.
He also proposed establishing a Joint Working Group to oversee the effective implementation of the agreements and called for further employment opportunities for Sri Lankan youth, particularly in information technology, tourism, hospitality, technical and other skilled sectors.
In response, Thai Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat assured that Sri Lankan workers employed under the new framework would enjoy equal rights and protection under Thai labour laws, including legally mandated wages, benefits and healthcare.
The agreements mark a significant step towards diversifying Sri Lanka’s foreign employment destinations, expanding access to skilled and decent employment opportunities, strengthening worker protection and further enhancing labour and economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Thailand.
