Sri Lanka (see also Bahrain)

Remittances and deployment in 2007

Sri Lanka’s migrant workers remitted $2.5 billion in 2007, up 15 percent from the previous year, according to the Annual Central Bank report for 2007. Departures for employment abroad also rose to 217,306 from 201,948 departures in the previous year. The report also shows that the number of domestic workers has declined to 47 percent from 49 percent in 2005.

Earnings from registration fees

The Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) earned Rs25 million more from registration fees charged to migrant workers in the past month.  The SLBFE charges Rs. 7,700 from each Sri Lankan worker heading abroad.  In 2007, income generated from registration fees increased by 50 million rupees from the previous year.  SLBFE said the income generated is used to provide insurance and welfare programs for migrant workers.

Sources:  Lakshmi de Silva, “SLBFE earnings from migrant workers increase,” The Island, 3 April 2008; Lakshmi de Silva, “Remittances from migrant workers increased by 15 percent to Rs 2.5 billion,” The Island, 24 April 2008