The regulation pertaining to increase the minimum age for contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) from 14 to 16 years was considered in the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labor held in Parliament this week.

An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued in this regard and it was agreed to submit the regulation regarding the amendment to Parliament for approval in the coming days, a statement said.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour met on Wednesday (03) under the chairmanship of the Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de Silva. This regulation has been issued in line with the amendment which was passed in Parliament recently in order to increase the minimum working age from 14 to 16 years.

In addition, the annual report of the National Institute of Labor Studies (NILS) for the year 2018 was considered at the meeting. The Committee drew attention on the Progress of the NILS in past years, which conducts training and awareness programs on labor law. 

The Minister instructed the relevant officials to obtain NVQ qualification for the courses of this institute and to develop all the courses in a more systematic manner.

He also directed the Secretary to the Ministry and the officials of the National Institute of Labor Studies (NILS) to make the lawyers, officials of the Department of Labor and the trade unions aware of the legal provisions related to the new labor law, introduced by the Parliament through awareness programmes and seminars. The current financial status of the institution was also discussed at the committee.

State Minister Piyankara Jayaratne, Member of Parliament Jagath Pushpakumara, Secretary to the Ministry Mapa Pathirana and officials were present at the meeting.