War spills over to jobs in Gulf states View(s):By Sajeniya SathanandanThe Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) firmly believes that instability in West Asia will cause job losses, but the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is optimistic and says there will be no loss of jobs although departures of workers are being delayed. ALFEA Secretary M F M Arshad told the Sunday Times that “roughly 80% to 90% of Sri Lanka’s annual foreign recruitment is focused on West Asia. Employers in West Asia have explicitly requested that recruiters not deploy selected candidates at this time,” Mr Arshad said. Employers in West Asia have become extremely cautious and uncertain about the future, which is challenging long-term recruitment prospects. Mr Wickremasinghe told the Sunday Times that there is no immediate risk for foreign employment and recruitment has not stopped.

Source: Sunday Times March 08, 2026 11:43 UTC