Sri Lanka to resume seasonal employment opportunities in South Korea under E-8 visa
- CNL Reporter
- July 1, 2025
- News
- E-8 visa
- 0 Comments
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is taking steps to activate job opportunities for seasonal employment in South Korea under the E-8 visa category, Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe said.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Wickramasinghe said that the proposal for this programme has already been submitted for Cabinet approval. Once granted, Sri Lanka will proceed to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with South Korean authorities, enabling workers to take up seasonal job placements.
He confirmed that necessary arrangements have been made to sign MoUs with four South Korean provinces, expressing confidence that these agreements will be finalised by July 10.
“We expect to dispatch the first group of workers to South Korea under the E-8 visa category by the end of this month. MoUs will be signed with four provinces, and we are preparing to send the maximum number of workers permitted annually for seasonal employment opportunities,” Wickramasinghe said.
He said that recruitment for these positions will be carried out exclusively by the government, with no involvement from the private sector. The SLBFE chief also cautioned the public against falling for false information being circulated on social media regarding these job opportunities.
“There is fake news being spread both locally and in South Korea claiming the government has abandoned this programme. We assure the public that the initiative has not been stopped — it was only temporarily suspended to follow proper legal procedures. Once Cabinet approval is obtained, we will move ahead by formalising it through MoUs,” Wickramasinghe clarified.
He further said that all recruitments would be conducted transparently and strictly based on qualifications, urging job seekers not to pay money to any intermediaries or brokers.
“We intend to make all recruitment-related information publicly available to ensure transparency in the selection process,” he added.
The E-8 visa scheme is designed for short-term, seasonal employment opportunities, providing Sri Lankans with new avenues for legal overseas work while addressing labour demands in South Korea’s agricultural and related sectors.
