Govt. to bring new Labour Act

The Government this week approved a proposal to introduce a new Labour Act, doing away with 61 Acts under the Department of Labour. 

As majority of the Acts out of the 61 are now defunct, and anomalies are present in the 27 Acts implemented by the Department, the Minister of Labour and Trade Unions Ravindra Samaraweera made a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers this week to introduce a new Act.  The Act will replace the Shop and Office Act, the Wages Boards Ordinance, the Women, Young Persons and Children Employment Act, and Maternity Benefits Ordinance while ensuring existing employee rights and benefits are retained.

The new laws will also make way for flexible working conditions to attract new labour to the development process. (CD)