Reportedly the Sri Lankan Labour Ministry will present a legislation to set a minimum wage for all private sector employees shortly. The Draft Bill has stipulated that the minimum monthly wage of any private sector employee to be US $ 74.84, regardless of whether the employee falls under categories named under the Shop and Office Act or the Wages Board Act. Labour and Labour Relations Ministry Secretary Herath Yapa said that the proposed legislation will benefit more than 1.5 million private sector employees in the country, including the apparel and textile sector workforce.
“This is the first time such a minimum wage has been introduced across the board. Neither trades in neither the Wages Board nor the categories in the Shop and Office Act have a stipulated minimum wage. Contributions to EPF, ETF and gratuity payments should be calculated on this wage once the Bill is passed,” said Minister of Labor SB Nawinna.