September 22, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and Qatar are looking to broaden cooperation on employment and worker welfare, with both sides exploring ways to create more opportunities for skilled Sri Lankan professionals in the Qatari labour market.
The issue was discussed during talks in Doha between Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra, and Qatar’s Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Smeikh Al Marri.
The meeting took place during Deputy Minister Hemachandra’s official visit to Qatar from 20 to 23 September, a visit that coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Among the key areas discussed were improved access to skilled and professional employment, stronger safeguards for migrant workers and greater transparency in recruitment. The two countries also considered ways to facilitate the mutual recognition of vocational and professional qualifications, which could help Sri Lankan workers compete for more specialised positions.
Sri Lanka currently has close to 140,000 nationals working in Qatar, making labour migration an important component of the relationship between the two countries. Deputy Minister Hemachandra stressed the need to maintain and strengthen cooperation in this area while ensuring that workers receive adequate protection and support.
He also proposed reviving the Sri Lanka-Qatar Joint Committee, which has not met for several years. The mechanism, he said, could provide a practical platform for following up on bilateral agreements and addressing issues affecting both workers and employers.
Skills development was another focus of the discussions, with both sides examining possibilities for expanding training initiatives and creating pathways into higher-skilled and better-value jobs for Sri Lankan workers.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Qatar, Sitara Khan, and other senior officials were also part of the Sri Lankan delegation at the meeting.
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