Colombo (LNW): A gazette declaration has been made by Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, increasing the renewal licence fee of foreign employment agencies. The gazette has been declared under Section 51 of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act of No. 21 of 1985. The amendments, accordingly, will take place as follows;

• The renewal fee of the licence in respect of the same premises will increase to Rs. 100,000 from Rs. 50,000.
• A fee of Rs. 18,000 (subject to applicable taxes) shall be paid under the category in which an employee has entered into a contract with an employer for the first time.
• A fee of Rs. 3,600 (subject to applicable taxes) shall be paid under the category in which an employee has renewed the contract with the same employer for the second, or subsequent time.