Financial Times

Sri Lanka, Malaysia in employment pact

Sri Lanka and Malaysia sign a joint pact next week on the employment of Sri Lankan nationals in Malaysia, the first time Colombo is entering an agreement with any of its labour-receiving, partner-countries.

The agreement would be reached during next week's visit to Malaysia of a high-powered trade and investment delegation from Sri Lanka.

"This is the first time Sri Lanka is entering into an employment agreement with any country.

It would cover the welfare and security of our workers," said Employment and Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe.

He is among three ministers - Prof. G L Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy & Investment and Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - visiting Malaysia from August 26 to 30 along with a business delegation.

Close to one million Sri Lankans are working in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Lankan workers in Malaysia are mostly involved in the plantation sector and as domestic aides.