Regulating Sub Agents for Better Migration from Sri Lanka - Incite at Columbia University

Sub Agents play a significant role in the recruitment of migrant workers from Sri Lanka.

They are largely unregistered and independently operating individuals who identify and collect the required number of workers on behalf of larger recruitment agencies, and are mainly based in rural villages, usually with personal connections to pools of prospective migrants.

Currently, there is mounting pressure in Sri Lanka to regulate Sub Agents and hold them accountable for their conduct. In this context, the study explores the relationship between migrants and sub agents, from the point of view of the former, and identifies the impact of Sub Agents characteristics in determining migration, negotiating incentives and wages, and the migrant’s perception of Sub Agents.

The study provides empirical evidence-based policy recommendations to regulate the Sub Agents in Sri Lanka.