Sri Lanka will resume sending workers to South Korea under the E-8 seasonal visa category, with the first batch of 16 youths scheduled to depart on Tuesday, April 14.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra announced the programme’s reactivation following government intervention. The programme had been suspended after what the Deputy Minister described as “irregular and unlawful arrangements” that prevented many Sri Lankans from securing employment.
The initial group will travel to the Yeongwol region in South Korea for agricultural sector jobs under a pilot project. The workers will be employed for eight months under seasonal contracts and are required to return to Sri Lanka upon completion.
Hemachandra warned that failure to return could jeopardise future employment opportunities for other Sri Lankan workers, adding that efforts are underway to expand job placements further.
Sri Lankans are currently employed in South Korea under three visa categories — E-9 for general employment, E-7 for skilled professionals, and E-8 for seasonal agricultural work. The E-8 category specifically targets short-term agricultural labour needs in rural South Korean provinces.
The resumption comes as the government seeks to expand overseas employment channels amid ongoing domestic economic pressures, with remittance inflows remaining a critical source of foreign exchange for the country.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment and related institutions were present at the announcement event.
Source: Newswire
