Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a memorandum of understanding and supplementary agreement with Thailand to establish formal mechanisms for regulating the employment of Sri Lankan workers in the country, protecting their rights and preventing trafficking.
Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal to enter into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding on labour cooperation with Thailand, along with a supplementary agreement governing the employment of Sri Lankan workers there. The agreements follow bilateral discussions between the two nations and are intended to create an official framework for cooperation in the labour sector.
Under the proposed arrangements, authorities in both countries will establish mechanisms to facilitate transparent and efficient recruitment and deployment of Sri Lankan workers to Thailand. The agreements are also designed to protect the legal rights and welfare of Sri Lankan workers employed in Thailand and to establish structured processes for their return. Both sources emphasise that the framework will include measures to prevent human trafficking and labour exploitation.
The labour pact comes as Thailand has implemented new visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens. From September 15, 2026, Sri Lankan passport holders will no longer be eligible for visa-free entry to Thailand under the 60-day visa-exemption scheme. Instead, travellers must obtain visas through Thailand's online e-Visa system before departure. According to one source, a government minister attributed the policy shift to recent incidents involving Sri Lankan travellers allegedly engaging in illegal activities in Thailand, including drug smuggling. The minister indicated he would travel to Thailand on September 14 to discuss the new bilateral agreements and related matters.