New unified employment law to be introduced soon By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka government will phase out the implementation of labour market reforms while pushing through a new unified employment law to gradually replace 28 archaic labour legislations currently in force, the Labour and Trade Union Relations Ministry revealed. The Wages Board Ordinance No.27 of 1941, the Factories Ordinance No.45 of 1942, Shop and Office Employees Act No.19 of 1954, Maternity Benefit Ordinance, and Factories Ordinance will be revised and these laws are to be integrated into a single employment law. Labour and Trade Union Relations Minister Ravindra Samaraweera while confirming the introduction of this law had informed the National Labour Advisory Committee (NLAC) on Tuesday that trade union leaders will also be consulted before presenting the relevant bill in Parliament, a trade union leader who attended the meeting said. The minister also noted that a document is now being drafted and that it will be tabled before the NLAC for discussion. The National Workers Charter was promulgated as state labour policy by the then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in September 1995.

Source: Sunday Times March 30, 2019 19:07 UTC