Private sector minimum wage increased to Rs. 30,000
January 20, 2026 01:27 pm
The minimum wage of employees in the private sector has been increased by Rs. 3,000, with effect from January 01.
Issuing a statement, the Commissioner General of Labour, H. M. D. K. Nadeeka Wataliyadda stated that accordingly the minimum wage has been increased from Rs. 27,000 to Rs. 30,000.
The wage increase has been implemented in accordance with the provisions of the National Minimum Wage of Employees (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2025.
The Commissioner General of Labour noted that when properly enforcing the Act, every employer, including both the immediate employer and the principal employer, is bound by the provisions of the Act in respect of any employee engaged in an industry or service through an intermediary or contractor.
Furthermore, according to Section 4 of the Act, no allowance other than budgetary relief allowances received by an employee as at March 31, 2025 shall be used to offset or substitute the minimum wage.
In line with the wage increase, the responsibility of applying it to all statutory payments, including Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF), overtime payments, gratuity, maternity benefits and leave payments, lies with the employers, the Commissioner General noted.
If any employer fails to make the required payments properly, complaints may be submitted through the Labour Department’s Complaint Management System via cms.labourdept.gov.lk, or submitted in writing to the nearest Labour Office, the Commissioner General of Labour added.
