Dr Bilesha Weeraratne Highlights the Need for a Muti-sectoral Approach to Address Irregular Labour Migration Issues

15 July, 2025

“Irregular labour migration not only affects migrant workers but also the sending and destination countries. Sending countries like Sri Lanka suffer reputational risks, legal and diplomatic tensions, potential loss of foreign currency, and social costs for families left behind,” explained Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, the Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research at IPS, during her presentation on irregularities in labour migration at a panel discussion held at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), on 15 July, 2025. At this discussion, Dr Weeraratne presented her findings on the risks, causes, and consequences of irregular labour migration and opportunities for policy reforms to address this issue.

“Irregular migration includes unauthorised work, illegal border crossings, visa overstays, and the use of fraudulent documents,” Dr Weeraratne explained. She further noted that “Economic hardships, high recruitment costs, and restrictive visa policies are key drivers for migrants pursuing irregular routes. In such instances, these migrants face exploitation at every stage, including fake job offers and wage theft at destination countries.”

The presentation highlighted that Sri Lanka’s irregular migration pathways often involve the misuse of tourist visas for employment, informal brokers, boat migration, and fake documentation. Unfortunately, these routes frequently overlap with human trafficking and smuggling networks.

Dr Weeraratne also expounded that, at times, Sri Lankan policies too contribute towards irregular migration. She called for a broader definition of “migrant workers,” similar to that used in the Philippines, to ensure protection for all overseas workers.

Addressing issues caused by irregular migration, Dr Weeraratne urged for a rights-based, multi-sectoral approach. “We need an approach that empowers migrant workers with the information they need, has better migration data, ensures ethical recruitment, and expands legal migration pathways.”

Dr Weeraratne shared these insights at a forum titled “Migration Governance in Asia: Interactions, Policies, and Future Prospects,” organised by the KDU.