Parliament approves minimum wage hike for private sector and Budget relief amendments

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Parliament yesterday unanimously passed the Minimum Wages Bill, raising the minimum wage for private sector employees from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000 effective April 2025, with a further increase to Rs. 30,000 starting next year.

The landmark wage increase was approved without a vote, signalling broad consensus across political parties on the need to address cost-of-living pressures faced by private sector workers.

On 7 Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the revision of the national minimum monthly and daily wage structure for private sector employees

(https://www.ft.lk/top-story/Cabinet-nod-to-increase-private-sector-minimum-wages/26-775326).

In addition, Parliament approved amendments to the Budget Relief Bill No. 4 of 2016 and Budget Relief Bill No. 36 of 2005, each by a two-thirds majority. Both bills received 181 votes in favour, with no votes against, although over 40 MPs were absent at the time of voting.

The Budget Relief Bill amendments are part of the Government’s broader fiscal reform agenda aimed at easing economic burdens and streamlining tax and welfare provisions.

The legislation will now move forward for implementation, marking a significant step in the Government’s commitment to ensuring equitable economic support and social protection.

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event including Valentine ’s Day. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Flower Bouquets, Clothing, Watches, Lingerie, Gift Sets and Jewellery. Also if you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.