The welfare, protection and employment prospects of Sri Lankan workers in Qatar will be among the key issues discussed when the two countries resume formal labour talks next week.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra will lead the Sri Lankan delegation to the Sri Lanka-Qatar Joint Committee Meeting on labour and foreign employment cooperation from September 20 to 23.
The meeting will take place after more than five years. The last meeting was held virtually in June 2021, while the previous in-person meeting took place in Colombo in December 2019.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra
Workers’ welfare and recruitment in focus
The talks are expected to cover employment opportunities, safe and transparent recruitment, worker welfare and protection, skills development and coordination between institutions.
These issues are directly linked to the experience of Sri Lankans seeking and holding jobs in Qatar.
Qatar remains an important destination for overseas employment. More than 46,000 Sri Lankan workers registered for employment in Qatar in 2024, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
The focus on recruitment is also important for workers before they leave the country. The SLBFE requires Sri Lankans leaving for overseas employment to register before departure. The registration system is intended to support worker protection and ensure that migrant workers have valid employment contracts.
Deputy Minister to meet Qatar officials
During the visit, Hemachandra will meet Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani. She is the Undersecretary of Qatar’s Ministry of Labour. The two sides will discuss labour and foreign employment cooperation.
Hemachandra will also meet members and representatives of the Sri Lankan community in Qatar. The meeting will allow him to discuss issues affecting Sri Lankans living and working in the country.
Hemachandra said the visit would help expand job opportunities for Sri Lankan workers. He also said the talks would address issues related to their welfare and protection.
The return of the Joint Committee after more than five years gives both countries a formal forum to discuss these issues.
For Sri Lankan workers, the focus will be on jobs, recruitment, workplace protection and welfare.
Sri Lankan workers in Qatar
Bilateral Discussions Diplomatic Relations Workforce & layoffs
Last modified: September 18, 2026
