Sri Lankan Pushes Forward Labour MoU with Thailand

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ambassador Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the Kingdom of Thailand, had met with Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of Thailand’s Department of Employment to review progress on the proposed recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers under a Government-to-Government (G-to-G) labour agreement.

The meeting follows the Thai Cabinet’s approval to move forward with recruiting Sri Lankan nationals to meet growing labour demands in Thailand.

During the discussion, Ambassador Edirisinghe presented a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from the Sri Lankan side and requested feedback on any proposed amendments. She emphasized that finalization of the agreement would require Cabinet approval in Sri Lanka.

Director General Morakotsriwan confirmed that the draft MoU would be reviewed by relevant Thai authorities and would require endorsement from the Ministry of Labour before implementation.

Ambassador Edirisinghe also highlighted Sri Lanka’s skilled workforce in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and industry, noting successful deployments to countries including Japan, South Korea, and Israel. She expressed confidence in the potential of Sri Lankan workers to contribute meaningfully to Thailand’s economy and stressed the importance of ensuring welfare and protection for those deployed.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in labour migration, aiming to create safe, structured, and mutually beneficial employment pathways for Sri Lankan nationals.