The Hon. Arun Hemachandra - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister, I table the answer.

¶ 02 - Statistics on complaints received from 2015 to 2026 are provided year-wise (total 75,062) as per the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) database; country-wise data are in Annex 01. - The nature of issues complained of is in Annex 02. - As per SLBFE data, the number repatriated to Sri Lanka to date is provided (total 36,059), with country-wise details in Annex 03. - The SLBFE, established under Act No. 21 of 1985 as amended by Acts No. 4 of 1994 and No. 56 of 2009, operates Employment and Welfare Sections in 15 Sri Lankan missions across 13 countries to ensure protection and welfare of migrant workers and promote employment opportunities. - These sections intervene urgently at state-to-state level to resolve issues faced by workers overseas and provide legal assistance where necessary. - Safe houses operated by missions provide shelter for female migrant workers in distress. - The SLBFE has Conciliation Sections at HQ and Provincial Migration Resource Centres to resolve complaints relating to issues with licensed foreign employment agents; an International Relations Unit also handles worker grievances received directly. - Data on resolved complaints and awards under Section 44 of the SLBFE Act, including monies recovered from agencies, are in Annex 04. - Missions arrange referral of distressed female workers to safe houses, providing food, lodging and necessities. - Missions obtain information on hospitalized workers overseas; SLBFE facilitates assistance as required. - With management approval, the Workers’ Welfare Fund meets urgent mission requests for air tickets, hospital bills and other necessities. - Where families bear repatriation airfare, reimbursement is facilitated via insurance when applicable, based on documents obtained by missions and forwarded to the Welfare Division. - For detained or hospitalized workers being repatriated, missions share flight details with next of kin and the SLBFE’s Airport Unit to provide necessary assistance; those needing further treatment are referred to the Negombo General Hospital, with ambulance support from airport to hospital. - In emergencies (conflict, disasters, pandemics), missions coordinate with international organizations and NGOs to assist and repatriate Sri Lankan migrant workers. - Funeral assistance paid to families of workers who die while employed abroad has been increased from Rs. 40,000.00 to Rs. 100,000.00 from 2026; disbursements from 2015 to 2026.04.30 are in Annex 05. - For workers registered with SLBFE facing emergencies (harassment, accidents, illness) or death, relief is provided through insurance cover and the Workers’ Welfare Fund. - Assistance for medicines and essentials to hospitalized workers is provided as required.

¶ 03 (b) Not applicable.