Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2019-04-30

Enhancement of the Minimum Wage of the Employees of the Private Sector

- Under the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, No.3 of 2016, the minimum monthly wage of the workers of the private sector has been fixed as Rs.10,000/- and the daily wage as Rs.400/- to be effective from the 01st of January 2016. The National Labour Advisory Council has recommended that the monthly wage of the workers of the private sector should be Rs.12,500/- and the daily wage should be Rs.500/- to suit the existing cost of living at present. Accordingly, the proposal made by H.E. the President Maithripala Sirisena, at the request of the Non‑Cabinet Minister of Labour and Trade Union Relations, to amend the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, No.3 of 2016 to increase the minimum wage of the employees of the private sector, taking into consideration the said recommendation, was approved by the Cabinet.