Govt. to revisit National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health

• Highlights need to modernise the existing policy with current workplace standards 
• Plans to engage all stakeholders over the next two weeks to gather input on updated policy 

The Government has decided to revisit the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health, taking into consideration the evolving demands in modern workplaces. 

This decision was made during a meeting held yesterday with the participation of Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, along with International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director Simrin Singh, officials from the Labour Department and officials from the National Occupational Safety and Health Institute. 

Minister Nanayakkara emphasised the pressing need to revisit the existing National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health, underscoring the necessity of modernising it to meet current workplace standards. 

He stressed that this updated policy would be instrumental in safeguarding the well-being of the Sri Lankan workforce. The Minister expressed his intention to initiate a dialogue within the next two weeks, engaging all relevant stakeholders to gather their perspectives and input. 

Nanayakkara highlighted the inclusion of a dedicated section in the new Labour Bill, focusing on the maintenance of a secure workplace environment. This strategic addition paves the way for Sri Lanka to ratify the ILO’s Occupational Safety and Health Convention No. 155. 

The meeting also featured extensive discussions on the importance of instilling a culture of workplace safety from a young age, with a collective effort to change public attitudes and emphasise the significance of creating a secure work environment.  The Ministry’s ongoing efforts to foster a culture of safety in the workplace and its commitment to environmental considerations were also topics of discussion throughout the meeting.