[Sri Lanka] Integrated labour law to encourage foreign investment

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara has announced that steps will be taken to ensure the new integrated labour law avoids the complexities of the country’s existing labour law, Colombo Page reports.

At the recent Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labor and Foreign Employment Affairs in Parliament, the Minister also said that the government will take opinions and suggestions from all relevant parties including the public from May 2, in order to formulate the integrated labour law.

The minister added that Sri Lanka's industrial law - which is currently disorganised and complex - is expected to be converted into an integrated labour law; an essential step to encourage local and foreign investors. The new consolidated law will facilitate the settlement of disputes between employers and employees. 

According to the Minister, these new laws will facilitate the more convenient start and running of business activities, particularly for investors coming to Sri Lanka.

The attention of the committee was also drawn to businesses that are not registered in the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF).

The Minister reportedly pointed out that only 80,000 business companies are registered in the Employees Provident Fund. MPs stressed that immediate action should be taken against unregistered companies.

It was decided to inform all divisional secretaries and local government commissioners in writing to send information about businesses registered in different parts of the island to the Ministry of Labor.

In addition, the Minister instructed the Department of Labor and the Employees' Provident Fund to submit a plan of possible future actions against such companies within a month.

The Minister instructed the Foreign Employment Bureau to implement a program to educate people about foreign employment. He stated that no special quota has been given to the Members of Parliament regarding sending workers to foreign employment roles.

The head of the Foreign Employment Bureau reportedly said that nearly 90,000 people - including 26,000 unskilled workers and over 60,000 skilled workers - have been put forward for foreign jobs recently.

Source: Colombo Page

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara has announced that steps will be taken to ensure the new integrated labour law avoids the complexities of the country’s existing labour law, Colombo Page reports.

At the recent Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labor and Foreign Employment Affairs in Parliament, the Minister also said that the government will take opinions and suggestions from all relevant parties including the public from May 2, in order to formulate the integrated labour law.

The minister added that Sri Lanka's industrial law - which is currently disorganised and complex - is expected to be converted into an integrated labour law; an essential step to encourage local and foreign investors. The new consolidated law will facilitate the settlement of disputes between employers and employees. 

According to the Minister, these new laws will facilitate the more convenient start and running of business activities, particularly for investors coming to Sri Lanka.

The attention of the committee was also drawn to businesses that are not registered in the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF).

The Minister reportedly pointed out that only 80,000 business companies are registered in the Employees Provident Fund. MPs stressed that immediate action should be taken against unregistered companies.

It was decided to inform all divisional secretaries and local government commissioners in writing to send information about businesses registered in different parts of the island to the Ministry of Labor.

In addition, the Minister instructed the Department of Labor and the Employees' Provident Fund to submit a plan of possible future actions against such companies within a month.

The Minister instructed the Foreign Employment Bureau to implement a program to educate people about foreign employment. He stated that no special quota has been given to the Members of Parliament regarding sending workers to foreign employment roles.

The head of the Foreign Employment Bureau reportedly said that nearly 90,000 people - including 26,000 unskilled workers and over 60,000 skilled workers - have been put forward for foreign jobs recently.

Source: Colombo Page