Minister Manusha Nanayakkara calls on stakeholder inputs for Labour Law reforms

Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara 

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara called on all stakeholder inputs to create comprehensive labour law reforms.

He extended an open invitation to all trade unions, political party representatives and other stakeholders to participate in the ongoing public consultations organised by the Labour Ministry related to the amendment of labour laws.

Nanayakkara made these remarks at the third session of ‘Influx’, a public consultation organised by the Labour Ministry seeking public views to amend labour laws.

“Our main objective is to change the labour law which is over 100 years old. As a country, we have been blaming each other for the last 75 years and have not taken any steps about moving forward,” he said, assuring the International Labour Organization or any other international organization has not told the Government to change the labour law.

He also assured that no document has been prepared regarding the reforms so far while calling for proposals from all stakeholders.

“The number of institutions that pay EPF and ETF, is about 80,000. This is very low. There are only about two million workers registered in EPF and ETF. There are only 280,000 tax-paying institutions in the country, including those that pay PAYE taxes. Can a country move forward if even 10% of the institutions do not pay taxes? We are only accusing each other, but measures required to solve the problems have not been taken,” he pointed out.

Acknowledging that there are many problems in running businesses and industries, he said problems that arise regarding labour rules take a major place in it. 

“If the existing labour laws and regulations have been effective, the labour community of our country should have prospered. But that has not happened,” he explained.

The Minister noted that the Government has created policies to build a developed country at least by the year 2048.

“Today we have to develop our workforce to suit the changing times and technologies. If that is not possible, we will fail as a country,” he said.

Highlighting that already some suggestions were submitted to the Labour Department, he said the matter has been made an open discussion. 

“We have invited the trade unions through the Labour Commissioner General to submit proposals and ideas. I have invited all the political parties in writing to submit their views and suggestions as well. I hope to write letters to the unions and invite them again this week. We also invite employers’ associations and anyone interested to comment at these public consultations. These suggestions and comments can be submitted in writing or by participating in person,” he added.