Labour Migration Trends in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lankans did not migrate for foreign employment. In history There is no record of any migrate for foreign employment. Migration for foreign employment started from the beginning of the 20th century. Among the sectors that contribute to the national income, the foreign employment income occupies a prominent position. The main objective is to identify the recent trends for foreign employment. The secondary data of Ministry of national policies and economic affairs, Department of census, Foreign employment Bureau are used in this study. Data analysis was done by using statistical analysis techniques and data are presented using graph and tables. It shows an increase of in foreign employment from 1987 to 2014. In 1987 it was 15,157 and in 2014 National income among the sectors that contribute to the national income, foreign employment income occupies a prominent position. Female participation surpassed that of men for the first time in 1988, and that trend has continued until 2007. Female participation surpassed that of men for the first time in 1988, and that trend has continued until 2007. This trend was attributed to the increasing number of migrants seeking employment in the domestic sector and garment factories. Twenty years later, in 2008, 48.81% of men, 51.19% of male workers, outperformed women in the narrow range. Female migration was 48.84%. The highest number of workers were reported in 2014.Migration to employment after 2014 has been downgraded by both men and women. Over the past few years, overseas employment has become Sri Lanka's main foreign exchange earner, surpassing all traditional foreign exchange sources.