The Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend fines imposed under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956.

The Act prohibits the employment of children under 16 and regulates the work of those aged 16 to 18, banning their engagement in hazardous occupations that threaten health, safety, or morals.

Currently, violators face a maximum fine of Rs. 10,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, along with compensation to the affected child. 

The Labour Ministry noted that the penalty has become insufficient, prompting the move to increase fines in line with International Labour Organization conventions 138 and 182 ratified by Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka will begin strict enforcement of child labour laws starting July 1, 2025, and has approved a new standardized procedure for combating organized child trafficking, marking a coordinated effort to protect minors from exploitation.

The government will begin strict enforcement of existing legal provisions prohibiting hazardous child labour starting July 1, 2025, following Cabinet approval of a new program introduced by the Minister of Child and Women’s Affairs.

Under the Children’s Rights Ordinance, a child is defined as any person under the age of 18. Children make up approximately 30 percent of the national population, and a significant number are reportedly engaged in labour due to various socioeconomic factors, the government said.

Many children are involved in street begging, selling goods, or working as domestic helpers, often becoming victims of human trafficking or forced labour.

The new initiative prohibits children under the age of 16 from engaging in street begging or trading. It also bans the employment of children aged 16 to 18 in hazardous occupations, including domestic work.

The program, to be implemented by the relevant ministry, aims to enforce these legal restrictions and launch a public awareness campaign on the risks and illegality of child labor.

Meanwhile the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a standardized monitoring procedure to guide law enforcement authorities in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting organized crimes related to child trafficking.

The procedure, titled “Standard Monitoring Procedure for Law Enforcement Officers on Revelation of Organizational Crimes Related to Child Trade, Investigation, and Litigation,” was developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, the Women and Child Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Department, the National Child Protection Authority, the Attorney General’s Department, and other relevant stakeholders.

Child trafficking for exploitation is classified as a serious violation of human rights and an international organized crime. Sri Lanka’s move aligns with its commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international frameworks, the government said.

With clearance from the Attorney General, the new procedure will be published in an official government gazette, allowing formal implementation by enforcement and prosecution authorities nationwide. The initiative aims to strengthen institutional and procedural responses to child trade and ensure more effective coordination among agencies. (Newswire)

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