Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2020-09-16

Amending the relevant labour legislation to raise the minimum age a worker can be employed to 16 years of age

- Approval of the Cabinet was granted at the meeting held on 2020‑06‑10 to amend the relevant labour legislation enabling to raise the minimum age a worker can be employed in service to 16 years of age so as to comply with the legal provisions describing the compulsory schooling education as 16 years. Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the drafts to amend the following Acts and Regulations:

* Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No.19 of 1954 (Chapter 129);

* Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No.47 of 1956

* Act for the amendment of the Minimum Wages (Indian Labour) Ordinance (Chapter 135)

* Factories Ordinance No.45 of 1942

* Regulations made under the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund Act, No.15 of 1958 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary Notification No.11573 datd 1958‑10‑31.

Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Labour to publish the said Draft Bills in the Government Gazette and thereafter to present the same in Parliament and also to present the Regulations made in terms of the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund Act, No.15 of 1958 in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.