The Hon. Vijitha Herath - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

¶ 01 Statement: Introduction of minimum wage for Sri Lankan workers in the Middle East (response to Question under SO 27(2) by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake on 2025.05.22).

¶ 02 1) In September 2021 the Government removed the mandatory US$300 minimum monthly wage for migrant workers to facilitate post-Covid recovery and employment expansion; currently no Sri Lankan-mandated minimum applies.

¶ 03 Host-country minima vary: – Qatar: Legal non-discriminatory minimum (QR 1,000 basic; if employer does not provide, QR 300 food and QR 500 housing allowances; package up to QR 1,800 ≈ US$494). In force since March 2021. – Kuwait: KD 75/month (≈ US$240) for private sector including migrants. – Saudi Arabia and UAE: No statutory minima.

¶ 04 SLBFE and missions monitor wage conditions and engage host countries to protect workers, including domestic and low-skilled.

¶ 05 Sri Lanka has signed bilateral labour agreements/MoUs with key Middle East destinations (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait), covering standard contracts, dispute resolution, wage protection, access to grievance mechanisms, and recruitment regulation. Joint committees oversee implementation and inspections.

¶ 06 Pre-departure: compulsory registration and training; employment contracts reviewed for compliance with legal minima and, where possible, regional benchmarks. Labour Attachés monitor wage trends and employer compliance; embassies intervene diplomatically on disparities.

¶ 07 The Ministry also collaborates with regional/multilateral forums (e.g., Abu Dhabi Dialogue) and enforces strict regulations on local recruitment agencies; violators face sanctions.

¶ 08 On Qatar specifically: the national minimum (QR 1,000 basic plus allowances) applies uniformly, including to domestic workers; new mechanisms like a Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund address unpaid wages. Many Sri Lankans earn at or above minima; complaints are pursued with Qatari authorities.

¶ 09 Domestic workers: No uniform Gulf-wide minimum. In Saudi Arabia typical contracts range US$250–350 depending on experience; the Philippines has secured US$400 as a benchmark via strict policy. Sri Lanka continues diplomatic efforts for better wages.

¶ 10 SLBFE mechanisms include: pre-departure contract attestation; licensing and audits of recruiters; digital systems for ethical recruitment and complaints; mission welfare sections for dispute resolution; blacklisting of abusive employers; emergency assistance and repatriation support.

¶ 11 Sri Lanka’s 2023 National Policy and Action Plan on Labour Migration emphasizes dignity, rights, and fair treatment. It does not presently reinstate a fixed outbound minimum wage but focuses on governance, fair recruitment, and overall conditions. The Ministry remains open to reviewing policies, including a possible minimum wage mechanism, through evidence-based, consultative processes aligned with international practice.

¶ 12 To reduce wage theft and protect remittances (with about 1.3 million Sri Lankans in the Middle East), SLBFE is preparing standardized wage guideline benchmarks for high-demand occupations. Strengthening wage protection can enhance welfare and foreign exchange inflows.