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Lanka launches labour migration blueprint with ILO, SDC help
ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka’s labour and foreign employment ministry launched its labour migration blueprint for 2023-2027 on Wednesday.
The National Policy and National Action Plan for Migration for Employment was developed by the ministry with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and financial backing from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
“Our workers abroad are the ones who helped Sri Lanka rise again; they are the ones who helped build back our foreign reserves from zero,” labour and foreign employment minister Manusha Nanayakkara said at the launch.
“This policy is to protect and safeguard them. Today our dollar reserves are close to 4 billion US dollars, of that 3.5 billion came from our migrant workers this year.”
Nanayakkara said his ministry had seen 312,000 workers go abroad last year through legal channels, and a larger contingent than that would have gone by the end of this year.
“As we gather to launch this strategic roadmap, we acknowledge the significant role that migration for employment has played in our nation’s development,” ministry secretary R P A Wimalaweera said.
Sri Lanka had previously introduced labour migration policies in 2008 and 2015. This latest policy was approved by cabinet last month.
“This is not just a document, it is our commitment to address the complex and multi-faceted challenges and the opportunities that labour migration presents.”
“The world of migration is evolving: We needed a fresh approach, one that aligns with the current situation and the latest trends in national, regional and global migration.
Wimalaweera pointed out that labour migration is a catalyst for the country’s economic growth and fostering human capital development.Around 200,000 workers go abroad annually. An estimated 1.7 million Sri Lankans are employed abroad at present, according to the ILO.
“Before the end of the year we should also have things related to emergency evacuation plans for migrant workers,” Simrin Singh, ILO country director said.
The new policy will have in place “plans to protect stranded or affected migrant workers, the engagement of employers and recruitment agencies, and the promotion of a skills passport, which will build the skills of migrant workers so they enjoy higher skilled employment,” she said.
Labour migration plays a key role in furthering economic development in Sri Lanka, which has seen a growing outflow of labour migrants.According to the Central Bank, remittances reached 500 million US dollars in August this year.
“We have observed the struggles of returning migrant workers into the local labour force. Together with the Sri Lankan authorities, we agreed on the need for revision of the existing labour migration policy to make a more coherent, inclusive, national policy that leaves no one behind,” said ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr Siri Walt.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
