General

The private sector minimum wage has been raised to Rs. 30,000, an increase of Rs. 3,000, starting January 01. H. M. D. K. Nadeeka Wataliyadda, the Commissioner General of Labour, announced this change in a statement. The new minimum wage reflects the National Minimum Wage of Employees (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2025. Wataliyadda emphasized that all employers, including both immediate and principal employers, must follow the Act for any workers hired through contractors or intermediaries. Additionally, Section 4 of the Act states that no allowances other than the budgetary relief allowances an employee receives as of March 31, 2025, can replace or reduce the minimum wage. Employers are also responsible for adjusting all statutory payments, such as the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF), overtime pay, gratuity, maternity benefits, and leave payments in line with this wage increase. If any employer does not comply with the payment requirements, workers can file complaints through the Labour Department’s Complaint Management System at cms.labourdept.gov.lk or submit a written complaint to their nearest Labour Office, the Commissioner General of Labour stated.