Non-COVID related health clearance checks on expatriates
Sri Lankan regulations to carry out health clearance of expatriates resident or employed in the country, not related to the COVID-19 pandemic, have become the subject of discussion at the Board of Investment (BOI) since they are causing a strain on companies in the free trade zones.
FTZ Manufacturers Association General Secretary Dhammika Fernando told the Business Times that expatriate workers or owners of BOI firms have complained regarding the health clearance they are subject to upon arrival to obtain the residence visa. As a result a further payment of US$75 is being charged to carry out this health clearance check.
This has been made compulsory since June 2019 and this health clearance has to be carried out only at one location without which the Immigration and Emigration Department will not issue visas to these persons, he explained.
It is being carried out since authorities believe that a lot of workers carry diseases and are therefore being checked for HIV, malaria, and an eye test as well.
However, Mr. Fernando noted that there seems to be something wrong about the health clearance that they believe is not carried out fairly.
Owners, shareholders, Directors and CEOs of BOI companies return to Colombo from time to time and in addition to this health clearance are now subject to the mandatory quarantine as well but in this respect a limited time period of only 14 days at the hotel has been considered sufficient.
He also explained that they were to take up concerns regarding the prioritizing of vaccinations for employees at the factories in the BOI zones as well. While apparel firms and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce have agreed to fund the vaccination drive for their employees, most SMEs are said to be unable to do so.