Sri Lankans looking for jobs overseas will have Thailand as a new employment destination, with the two countries agreeing to recruit an initial 10,000 Sri Lankan workers.
The new agreement sets rules for recruitment and employment in Thailand. It covers job contracts, wages, visas, work permits, healthcare and worker welfare.
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath and Thailand’s Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat signed the agreements in Bangkok.
The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation and a Memorandum of Agreement on the Employment of Sri Lankan Workers in Thailand.
Jobs available in several sectors
The first recruitment programme could cover several areas of the Thai economy.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said “these include construction, agriculture and livestock, food and beverage, industry, educational institutions, aquatic-animal processing and mining.
The two countries will also look at jobs for Sri Lankan youth in IT and tourism”.
This could give skilled workers and professionals another option when seeking jobs overseas.
Workers to receive protection under Thai law
The agreement sets rules for Sri Lankan workers before and during their employment in Thailand.
Workers will need the correct visas and work permits. They will also receive employment contracts that set out their terms of work.
Thai Labour Minister Julapun said Sri Lankan workers will receive the rights and protection provided under Thai labour law.
This includes legally required wages, benefits and healthcare.
The agreement also covers worker welfare and arrangements for workers who return to Sri Lanka.
These rules can help workers understand their jobs and employment conditions before leaving the country.
Measures to prevent illegal recruitment
The labour agreement also includes measures to prevent illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
Sri Lanka and Thailand will share information on labour markets and work together on skills development and worker protection.
The aim is to give workers a safer route into the Thai job market.
However, the initial figure of 10,000 is a recruitment target under the new agreement. It does not mean that 10,000 vacancies are already open for applications.
The authorities still need to announce the jobs and explain how workers can apply.
Thailand could become a new job market
Sri Lanka has long depended on several major overseas employment markets, especially in the Middle East.
Thailand gives Sri Lankan workers another option.
The Government also sees Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries as growing employment markets, particularly for skilled workers and professionals.
Minister Herath has proposed a Joint Working Group to oversee the agreements and track their progress.
If the programme grows, more Sri Lankan workers could find jobs in Thailand in both skilled and other occupations.
The jobs and wages will matter
For workers and their families, the value of the new agreement will depend on the jobs that become available.
The wages, working conditions and cost of living in Thailand will also matter when workers decide whether to take up an offer.
The recruitment process will be just as important.
Workers need to know who is recruiting them, how much they will earn and what job they will do before they leave Sri Lanka.
They also need protection if an employer breaks the terms of the contract.
The new agreements provide a legal framework for these issues.
The next step is for the two governments to put the system into operation and announce the first vacancies.
For Sri Lankans looking for overseas employment, Thailand could soon become another option alongside the country’s established foreign job markets.
Diplomatic Relations Foreign Affairs Ministerial Update Workforce & layoffs
Last modified: September 14, 2026
