Only 12,000 people left unemployed by the pandemic - Labour Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Sri Lankan Minister had told the parliament that only 12,000 people have been left unemployed in the country due to the pandemic.

Labour Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva told the house that the numbers were ascertained following a census that was carried out.

Speaking during a debate on wages the Minister said that hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans have not been left unemployed due to the pandemic as claimed by members of the opposition.

Further, he said that estate workers are being paid the Rs. 1000/- daily wage and the Ministry nor the Department of Labour has received any complaint with regard to the non-payment of the revised daily wage.

'Since there is a court case on-going over the matter, we have prepared necessary measures to be taken in the event there is non-compliance in the future,' he told the Parliament.

The Bill to amend the National Minimum Wage for Employees in Sri Lanka was adopted in parliament with zero amendments on Wednesday (04).

Labour Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said the bill was moved to amend Section 03 of the Minimum Wage of Employees Act No. 03 of 2016 to increase the current minimum monthly wage from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 12,500/-.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera noted that there is a rise in Sri Lankan businessmen and entrepreneurs migrating to other countries due to strict labour laws.

He said adding more labour laws could threaten international investors backing out from investing in Sri Lanka.