Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, has expressed concern over the disruptions caused by certain external parties working outside the approved system for the E-8 visa, which is used for seasonal employment in South Korea.
Minister Herath highlighted that these actions have led to significant inconvenience for workers awaiting their jobs, which has further complicated the visa process. In response to these issues, the minister visited the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau in Battaramulla on the morning of the 20th of November. During the visit, he held a special discussion with senior officials of the Bureau and a group of workers directly affected by the situation.
The meeting focused on reviewing the referral process for workers under the E-8 visa system and assessing the legal aspects surrounding these referrals. Minister Herath emphasized the need for a comprehensive study into the current situation to understand the legal framework and to identify steps that need to be taken moving forward to streamline the process.
Present at the discussion were Bureau Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe, General Manager D.D.P. Senanayake, along with other senior officials from the Bureau, who engaged in the deliberations regarding how to address the concerns of workers and ensure that the E-8 visa system functions effectively and within the approved guidelines.
Minister Herath stated that the government is committed to resolving the issues and providing workers with the support they need to secure employment through the legitimate channels under the E-8 visa program.
