Licensed foreign employment agencies will stage a peaceful protest tomorrow (February 3) outside the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) office in Kotte, citing prolonged governance failures that they say are disrupting the functioning of the foreign employment sector.
The protest is being organized by licensed agencies who claim that internal disputes and administrative irregularities within ALFEA have reached a critical point, adversely affecting legitimate operators and weakening industry representation.
According to the organizers, the current ALFEA committee has continued in office beyond its constitutionally mandated one-year term. They allege that this has occurred amid mass suspensions of members, lack of structured leadership and failure to uphold constitutional procedures and ethical standards.
Protesters also point to growing fragmentation within the sector, noting that nearly 1,000 licensed foreign employment agencies are now divided among 13 separate associations. They warn that this division has led to internal conflicts, inconsistent representation and a breakdown in collective decision-making.
Organizers say many genuine license holders continue to face difficulties due to outdated administrative systems, unresolved structural issues and the absence of a unified governing body. They argue that the prolonged instability has created uncertainty within the industry and risks undermining public confidence in foreign employment services.
