• Minimum monthly wage to go from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,500
• Daily wage up from Rs. 400 to Rs. 500
• Bill to be presented to Parliament shortly

The Government has gazetted a bill to increase the minimum monthly wage of the workers of the private sector from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,500 and daily wages from Rs. 400 to Rs. 500. The new wages will become effective once the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act (Amendment) Bill is passed by Parliament.

Cabinet gave approval to enhance to minimum wages and daily wages in the private sector in April this year in keeping with the existing cost of living on a proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, at the request of Non-Cabinet Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations Ravindra Samaraweera, to amend the relevant Act.

The National Labour Advisory Council had recommended that the monthly wage of the workers of the private sector should be increased due to the high cost of living.

The previous minimum monthly wage of the workers of the private sector was fixed at Rs. 10,000 and the daily wage at Rs. 400 effective from 1 January 2016.

The Bill will be presented to Parliament shortly.

VoA seeks Rs. 1.4 t for Govt. expenses