Emergency evacuation response plan for Sri Lankan migrants

Sri Lanka has a long-standing commitment to protecting migrant workers' rights, having ratified numerous International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions, including the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention. Despite this, there have been no internationally accepted guidelines for developing country-specific emergency evacuation response plan.

Recognizing this gap, the ILO, under its Safe Labour Migration Programme, commissioned a six-member team to create an emergency evacuation response plan tailored to Sri Lanka. A technical review committee comprising nearly 20 government stakeholders and key development partners guided the process, ensuring the plan aligns with the needs of migrant workers in emergencies.

The resulting framework addresses emergencies in four key stages: preparedness, crisis response, recovery, and reintegration. Within these stages, it emphasizes mental health and psychosocial support, general health care, gender-responsiveness, legal system enhancements, ICT utilization, media engagement, and data governance to mitigate the impacts of emergencies.

Notably, the plan recommends amending the Disaster Management Act to include “international disasters” and establish directives for inter-agency coordination across all stages of a crisis. Reintegration arrangements are not included, as they are covered under the National Policy on Migration for Employment.

The report’s foundation lies in understanding the unique vulnerabilities of Sri Lankan migrant workers, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to resources abroad. A thorough risk assessment enabled the development of proactive strategies to ensure efficient evacuation and support during emergencies.

This comprehensive framework prioritizes the well-being, safety, and dignity of Sri Lankan migrant workers, offering a robust response system to safeguard their rights and welfare in times of crisis.