Thailand Signs Labor Agreement With Sri Lanka
Thailand and Sri Lanka signed a labor agreement allowing 10,000 Sri Lankan workers to legally enter Thailand starting early 2027, primarily for construction and agriculture sectors facing critical shortages.
Thailand's Labor Minister Chulphon Amornvivadthana and Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath signed a memorandum of understanding and employment agreement on September 14, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. The agreement lays the groundwork for long-term labor partnership between Thailand and Sri Lanka based on principles of transparency, fairness, safety, and workers' rights protection.
Under the agreement, Thailand will open legal channels for hiring 10,000 Sri Lankan workers beginning in early 2027 to support labor demand in critical economic sectors, particularly construction and agriculture, which are currently facing severe shortages. Sri Lankan nationals will be permitted to work in various industries including fishing, construction, agriculture, and livestock farming, subject to Thai labor ministry regulations and immigration law.
Chulphon stated that this cooperation benefits both nations: Thailand gains skilled workers to support economic activities, while Sri Lankan workers obtain legitimate employment opportunities with proper legal protections and fair treatment. The mechanism is expected to reduce reliance on illegal labor channels and contributes to efforts against human trafficking and forced labor. Thailand emphasizes that all foreign workers entering the country must be treated with dignity and full legal protection under Thai law.
