The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children (Amendment) Bill proposes to increase fines for offences under the 1956 Act from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000, bringing Sri Lanka’s legislation in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
The Bill, scheduled for its second reading in Parliament on August 20, was recently considered by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital under the chairmanship of MP Sunil Rajapaksa.
Officials from the Ministry of Labour explained that the existing penalties are no longer adequate to deter violations.
The Act prohibits employment of children below 16 and regulates work for those aged 16–18, banning hazardous occupations that could harm health, safety or morals.
Amendments introduced in 2003 allowed courts to impose fines up to Rs. 10,000, imprisonment up to 12 months, or both, along with compensation to affected children. The new Bill updates minimum fines in Sections 7(3), 13(2) and 20(a)(3).
Committee members agreed the amendment is a timely necessity and approved the Bill.
The meeting also reviewed annual performance reports of the Ministry of Labour, Department of Labour, Department of Manpower and Employment, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, and National Institute of Labour Studies. (Newswire)