Sri Lanka and Thailand have signed two agreements establishing a formal framework for the recruitment and employment of Sri Lankan workers in Thailand, moving the initiative from an approved proposal to a signed bilateral arrangement.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation and Memorandum of Agreement on the Employment of Sri Lankan Workers in Thailand were signed in Bangkok on 14 September by Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Thailand's Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat.
Thailand will open an initial 10,000 employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers under the new framework.
The agreements establish a structured, transparent and legally regulated process for recruitment and employment while providing safeguards for workers' rights, welfare and interests.
The wider cooperation framework covers areas including labour policies and practices, labour-market information, skills development, productivity and worker protection, while also seeking to prevent illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said Herath emphasised fair recruitment, decent working conditions and worker welfare and proposed establishing a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation.
The Thai Labour Minister said Sri Lankan workers employed through the framework would receive rights and protection under Thai labour laws, including applicable wages, benefits and healthcare.
What the 10,000 figure means
The figure represents the initial employment opportunity/recruitment ceiling or target under the new framework.
It does not mean:
- 10,000 Sri Lankans have already been recruited;
- 10,000 workers have already travelled to Thailand;
- every position is immediately available to applicants; or
- applications can necessarily be submitted now without further implementation procedures.
Thai official information indicates recruitment will depend on actual employer demand and the relevant administrative processes rather than all 10,000 workers entering Thailand at once.