Migrant workers: SLBFE grants over Rs. 1 b in welfare benefits

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) provided welfare benefits exceeding Rs. 1 billion to Sri Lankan migrant workers and their families during 2025, according to official data released by the Bureau.

From January to November, the SLBFE disbursed Rs. 964.30 million in assistance covering 326,246 migrant workers. A further Rs. 397 million was spent to provide free insurance coverage for 318,209 workers departing overseas for employment.

Education support remained a key component of welfare spending, with Rs. 50.88 million paid as scholarships to 1,628 school-going children of migrant workers and Rs. 50.25 million allocated for school equipment for another 4,304 children.

The Bureau said welfare assistance also covered compensation for deaths and illnesses during overseas employment, financial support for returnees starting self-employment, healthcare assistance for family members, loan schemes, and payments through the Workers’ Welfare Fund.

Legal action taken on behalf of victims of foreign employment fraud led to the recovery of more than Rs. 374 million, the SLBFE said. Its 24-hour Information Centre has also been upgraded to improve public access to foreign employment-related services.

Meanwhile, foreign worker remittances reached a record 8.07 billion US dollars last year, the highest in the 40-year history of overseas employment in Sri Lanka, marking a 22.8% increase from 2024. A total of 311,139 Sri Lankans migrated overseas for employment during the year.

Source: The morning