Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment

What Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment does

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is a government statutory bureau established in 1985 under the Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headquartered in Battaramulla. It is the sole regulatory authority for foreign employment of Sri Lankan workers, with exclusive mandate to license and oversee local and foreign recruitment agencies, register migrant workers, and manage pre-departure training and welfare programs. Headcount is reported at 11-50 staff, supplemented by an islandwide network of provincial centers, district centers, airport welfare units, the Zimantra training center, and a 24-hour call center in Colombo. The organization operates a digital services platform comprising an Online Job Bank (jobbank.slbfe.lk), an Online Complaint Management System, an online self-registration portal, and the Lankakonect mobile application developed with SLT-MOBITEL and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for multilingual grievance tracking in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

SLBFE delivers services across three primary customer segments: Sri Lankan migrant workers (registration, training, complaint management, welfare support), local licensed recruitment agencies (licensing, renewal, compliance), and foreign employers and recruitment agencies (access to a pre-screened Sri Lankan workforce). Revenue is generated through fee-based streams: recruitment agency licensing fees, migrant worker registration and renewal fees (e.g., LKR 21,467 for Japan program), service charges for placement (e.g., USD 428.45 SLBFE processing fee plus USD 1,735 Israeli service provider fee for Israel caregiver program), and pre-departure training fees (LKR 6,000 for English, LKR 12,000 per Japanese language level, LKR 19,282 for caregiver, LKR 22,995 for domestic housekeeping Middle East). Government-to-government recruitment programs operate with South Korea under EPS (manufacturing, construction, fisheries, shipbuilding), Japan under TITP and SSW (via IM JAPAN and IRO Japan), and Israel under bilateral MoUs for caregiver (February 2020) and agricultural (November 2023) sectors. Workers are also placed in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong via licensed channels. Operational scale is evidenced by 144,379 departures in H1 2025, USD 8.07 billion in 2025 remittances (a record), and a projected USD 9 billion for full-year 2026, with 47,819 departures recorded in just the first 2 months of 2026.

Name

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment

Legal name

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment

Website

https://slbfe.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is the sole government-mandated regulator of foreign employment for Sri Lankan workers, licensing recruitment agencies, registering migrant workers, running pre-departure training, and operating G2G placement programs with Korea, Japan, and Israel, serving workers, agencies, and foreign employers through digital and nationwide physical service centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foreign Employment Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), International Affairs (92812), Administration of Economic Programs (926)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIABAO

State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/State/Provincial & Regional Government Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAOAO

Trade, Import/Export Controls & Sanctions Regulators

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Regulatory Agencies & Licensing (Cross-sector)

Keywords

• Foreign employment services
• Migrant worker training
• Recruitment agency licensing
• Pre-departure orientation
• Labor migration regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Battaramulla

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Recruitment Agency Licensing Fees: SLBFE charges licensing fees to local and foreign recruitment agencies operating in Sri Lanka. Fees include registration and renewal charges for obtaining and maintaining foreign employment licenses.
2. Migrant Worker Registration Fees: Migrant workers pay registration and renewal fees when registering with SLBFE for foreign employment. For example, registration fees for Japan program amount to LKR 21,467 (including taxes).
3. Service Charges for Placement: SLBFE charges service fees for placement of workers. For Israel caregiver program, a service charge of USD 1,735 is paid to the Israeli service provider organization, plus processing fees of USD 428.45 to SLBFE.
4. Pre-Departure Training Fees: SLBFE conducts and charges for pre-departure training programs for migrant workers. Training programs include caregiver (LKR 19,282), domestic housekeeping Middle East (LKR 22,995), Japan language N5/N4 (LKR 12,000 each), English course (LKR 6,000), and other vocational training. NVQ certification fees are additional (e.g., LKR 2,500 for domestic housekeeping).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is the sole government-mandated statutory body that regulates and promotes overseas employment for Sri Lankan migrant workers. It licenses local and foreign recruitment agencies, registers migrant workers, runs pre-departure training programs leading to NVQ certifications, operates an online job bank and complaint management system, manages G2G recruitment programs (Korea EPS, Japan TITP/SSW, Israel MoU), and provides welfare services including insurance claims, scholarships, and reintegration support for returned workers.

Product overview

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is a government agency that operates as a unified platform offering comprehensive services for migrant workers, job seekers, and recruitment agencies. The core offerings include an Online Job Bank, an Online Complaint Management system, training programs, and recruitment coordination for Korea, Japan, Israel, and other countries. Services are delivered through web portals and mobile applications, providing registration, grievance tracking, welfare facilities, and pre-departure training for prospective migrant workers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Job Bank Self-service web portal connecting Sri Lankan migrant workers and job seekers with overseas employment opportunities listed by licensed agencies and G2G programs. Targets individual Sri Lankan citizens seeking foreign employment.
• Online Complaint Management System Digital platform that enables migrant workers (in service or returned) to lodge, track, and follow up on complaints related to employment violations, abuse, and unpaid wages. Serves overseas Sri Lankan workers and returned migrants.
• Pre-Departure Training Programs SLBFE-operated training programs including Caregiver (LKR 19,282, 45 days, NVQ III), Domestic Housekeeping for Middle East (LKR 22,995, 25 days, NVQ III), Japan Language N5/N4 (LKR 12,000 per level), English Course (LKR 6,000, 14 days), and Orientation for Non-Domestic Workers (LKR 1,846). Each program awards NVQ certifications and prepares migrant workers for overseas employment.
• Korea Recruitment Program (EPS) Government-to-Government recruitment program sending Sri Lankan workers to South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS). Covers manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, fisheries, and agriculture sectors. Workers are selected through Korean language proficiency tests (EPS-TOPIK) and the 10th Point System.
• Japan Recruitment Program (TITP/SSW) Government-to-Government recruitment programs for Japan including the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) under MoU with IM JAPAN (2017) and IRO Japan (2021), and the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program under cooperation agreement with the Government of Japan (2019). Facilitates recruitment, language training (N5/N4), and placement of Sri Lankan workers in Japanese industries for 3 or 5-year terms.
• Israel Recruitment Program Government-to-Government recruitment program placing Sri Lankan workers in Israel under bilateral MoUs with the Israeli government (PIBA). Covers caregiver positions (90% female, monthly minimum wage NIS 5,571.75) and agricultural employment. Includes SLBFE processing fee of USD 428.45 plus Israeli service provider charge of USD 1,735.
• Welfare Facilities for Migrant Workers Support services for migrant workers including insurance claim processing, self-employment support for returned workers, scholarships/school equipment for children of migrant workers, and other welfare assistance.
• Lankakonect Mobile App Mobile complaint management application developed by SLT-MOBITEL in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SLBFE, allowing overseas Sri Lankan workers to register, submit, and track employment-related grievances in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.
• Online Self-Registration Service Digital registration system for Sri Lankan migrant workers to register or renew their foreign employment registration. Includes registration fees (e.g., LKR 21,467 including taxes for Japan program) and the National Identity Document for registration.
• Recruitment Agency Licensing Service Regulatory licensing service through which SLBFE grants and renews foreign employment licenses for local Sri Lankan recruitment agencies and foreign employment agencies operating in Sri Lanka. Includes registration and renewal fees for obtaining and maintaining the license.

Quantifiable outcome

• Remittances reached USD 3.06 billion in first 4 months of 2026, projected to exceed USD 9 billion for full year 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SLT-MOBITELcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2026SLT-MOBITEL, Sri Lanka's national ICT solutions provider, developed the Lankakonect mobile application for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Affairs Division and SLBFE. The app serves as a complaint management platform for Sri Lankans overseas and migrant workers, allowing users to register, submit, and track grievances related to employment violations, abuse, and unpaid wages in Sinhala, Tamil, and English. The collaboration aims to strengthen ties between the diaspora and the government while supporting Sri Lanka's digital transformation goals.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026SLBFE collaborates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Lankakonect application, developed for the Ministry's Consular Affairs Division. The app serves as a digital bridge for Sri Lankans overseas, particularly migrant workers, to submit and track complaints related to employment issues.
• Government of Israel (Population and Immigration Authority - PIBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2023The Government of Israel (Population and Immigration Authority - PIBA) and the Government of Sri Lanka (SLBFE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 5, 2023, for the agricultural employment program in Israel. SLBFE recruits Sri Lankan workers for Israeli agricultural jobs under this G2G arrangement.
• International Relations Organization (IRO) JapanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021IRO Japan signed an agreement with SLBFE in December 2021 for the placement of Sri Lankan technical intern trainees (TIT) in Japan. Similar to the IM JAPAN program but operated through IRO as the implementing organization.
• Government of Israel - Caregiver ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2020The Government of Israel (PIBA) and SLBFE signed an MoU on February 24, 2020, for the home-based caregiver employment program. Under this program, 90% female workers and 10% male workers are recruited by the Israeli government for caregiver jobs (though male recruitment is currently suspended). Monthly minimum wage is NIS 5,571.75.
• Government of Japan (via Specified Skilled Worker Agreement)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2019The Government of Japan and SLBFE signed a cooperation agreement in Tokyo on June 19, 2019, for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) program, providing employment opportunities for qualified Sri Lankan workers in Japan. This is a separate program from TITP, targeting skilled workers.
• IM JAPAN (International Manpower Organization, Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017IM JAPAN, a Japanese organization representing the Japanese government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SLBFE in 2017 for the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), placing Sri Lankan workers in Japan. The partnership facilitates recruitment, language training, and placement of Sri Lankan technical intern trainees in Japanese industries. Workers are recruited for 3 or 5-year terms under this program.
• Government of South Korea (EPS - Employment Permit System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLBFE manages the G2G Employment Permit System (EPS) arrangement with South Korea, sending Sri Lankan workers to South Korea under the EPS. The program covers four sectors: agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding. Workers are selected through Korean language proficiency tests (EPS-TOPIK) and the 10th Point System.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Philippines Department of Migrant Workers (DMW): The Philippine government's primary agency for overseas Filipino worker (OFW) deployment, welfare, and regulation. DMW is the closest functional analog to SLBFE — licensing recruitment agencies, providing pre-departure training, processing contracts, and managing worker welfare — and operates at significantly larger scale (over 1 million annual deployments).
• Bangladesh Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET): Bangladesh's government agency regulating overseas employment, licensing recruiting agencies, and managing migrant worker registration and training. Operates in similar low-skilled labor export corridors (Middle East, Southeast Asia) and faces analogous protection-of-workers challenges as SLBFE.
• Indonesia BP2MI (Badan Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia): Indonesian government agency for the protection and placement of Indonesian migrant workers abroad. BP2MI licenses agencies, runs pre-departure training, handles complaints, and negotiates G2G agreements — directly mirroring SLBFE's mandate, with similar focus on domestic workers and caregivers in the Middle East and East Asia.
• Nepal Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE): Nepal's regulatory body for foreign employment, including licensing, worker registration, pre-departure orientation, and welfare for returnees. Operates in similar low-skilled labor corridors (Malaysia, Gulf, East Asia) and faces comparable governance and worker-protection challenges as SLBFE.
• India Protector General of Emigrants (PGE): India's office under the Ministry of External Affairs responsible for emigration clearance, recruitment agency registration, and protection of Indian migrant workers. Closely comparable to SLBFE in regulatory function, though India also operates a larger private-sector parallel ecosystem.
• Pakistan Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment: Pakistan's government body overseeing emigration of Pakistani workers, including registration, attestation of employment contracts, and welfare services. Operates in similar Gulf and East Asia corridors and matches SLBFE's mandate on worker protection and licensing.
• Vietnam Department of Overseas Labour Management: Vietnam's MOLISA unit overseeing overseas labor contracts, licensing of labor export companies, and pre-departure training. Comparable to SLBFE in regulatory scope and export-market orientation (Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Middle East).

Broad incumbents

• International Organization for Migration (IOM): United Nations–affiliated intergovernmental organization that works globally on migration policy, labor migration corridors, and worker protection programs. IOM partners with origin countries (including Sri Lanka historically) on ethical recruitment and reintegration, providing broader policy context for SLBFE's mission.

Regional players

• Myanmar Department of Labour — Overseas Employment Division: Myanmar's labor ministry oversees overseas employment of Myanmar workers, with similar bilateral programs to Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, and Japan. Operates in the same Southeast Asian labor-export landscape as SLBFE, though currently disrupted by domestic political instability.

Others

• FairSquare Projects: An advocacy and research organization focused on Gulf labor migration and kafala reform. While not a regulator, it operates in the same migrant-worker protection and policy ecosystem that SLBFE engages with, particularly around complaints and welfare in Middle East destinations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@srilankabureauofforeignemp2217
• Facebookfacebook.com/slbfeOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foreign-employment-bureau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment