The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved an increase in the national minimum salary.

As per the provisions of the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act (No. 03 of 2016), the minimum national salary stands at Rs. 12,500/-.

A tertiary subcommittee, consisting of representatives from trade unions and employers in small and medium-level enterprises, was appointed under the guidance of the National Labour Consultancy Board.

This subcommittee recommended raising the minimum salary to Rs. 17,500/-.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal put forth by the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, which involves increasing the national minimum salary by Rs. 5,000/-, taking it from Rs. 12,500/- to Rs. 17,500/-.

To implement this change, the employees’ national minimum wages act (No. 3 of 2016) will be revised. The revision aims to raise the daily minimum salary from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 700/-.