Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Thursday, 16 October 2025 06:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Government is preparing to introduce four new bills as part of its broad labour law reform agenda aimed at modernising Sri Lanka’s employment framework and aligning it with evolving economic and social realities, the Parliament Secretariat said yesterday.
The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour Affairs this week hear submissions from the Labour Ministry on the proposed reforms focus on simplifying and consolidating existing laws while strengthening worker protection and employer flexibility. Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando and Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe participated in the meeting.
A 17-member committee has been appointed to review 14 existing labour laws and develop four new bills covering trade unions, labour relations, occupational safety, and termination of employment.
The committee has agreed that necessary amendments will be made to the current laws until the new framework is enacted.
Revisions will also be introduced to the laws on women working at night, labour protection, and insurance provisions related to employment termination.
The reforms are intended to balance worker welfare with the competitiveness and adaptability of enterprises.
According to Labour Ministry officials, the national policy on occupational safety and health has reached its final stage and will be published shortly. Work is also underway to upgrade the Labour Department’s database, ensuring that under the Government’s digitalisation drive, all workers are registered in the system immediately upon entering the labour force, the Parliament Secretariat said.
