The Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA), once envisioned as a strong regulatory body to uphold integrity and professionalism in Sri Lanka’s foreign employment sector, is reportedly struggling to exercise its legal authority despite its statutory mandate.
Critics say the institution, intended to act as an effective regulator, has been reduced to a largely ceremonial role, allowing licensed agencies to operate with limited oversight in a sector that directly impacts human lives.
ALFEA member Muhammadh Azzam stated that former ALFEA President and SSPL Recruitment Consultants representative Wijaya Undupitiya had previously emphasised that the Association should function as the industry’s “intellectual police,” ensuring transparency, ethical conduct and professional responsibility through the enforcement of a Code of Good Conduct.
However, according to Azzam, years of administrative lapses and weakening policy frameworks have eroded the Association’s authority. As a result, regulatory codes remain largely on paper, license renewals reportedly occur without proper verification, and collective disciplinary mechanisms have been replaced by inconsistent, ad hoc management practices.
