
New regulations introduced by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) came into effect on 1st of July requiring first-time migrant workers in non-domestic sectors to obtain prior certification of their employment contracts from the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in the respective country.
This regulation applies to those seeking employment in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.
The SLBFE says the measure aims to strengthen the legal rights and protection of Sri Lankan workers by ensuring employment contract transparency and authenticity before departure.
However, individuals traveling for self-employment under professional categories are exempted, provided they can present a passport or supporting documents confirming their professional status abroad.