The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to speak on the Bills to increase wages of private sector employees. Members who spoke before set out what is expected through these amendments. We intend to amend the Employees’ National Minimum Wage Act, No. 3 of 2016, to raise the private sector minimum wage up to Rs. 30,000 in two stages. Under Act No. 3 of 2016, the national minimum monthly wage was Rs. 10,000 and the national minimum daily wage Rs. 400. The 2021 Amendment (Act No. 16 of 2021) increased the national minimum monthly wage to Rs. 12,500 and the daily minimum to Rs. 500. Then, by the 2024 Amendment (Act No. 48 of 2024), from September 2024 the national minimum monthly wage for private sector workers was raised to Rs. 17,500 and the daily minimum to Rs. 700.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, how do we make this labour resource efficient and confer professional dignity on private sector employees? Our policy statement “Prosperous Country – Beautiful Life,” from pages 68 to 72, sets out measures, including establishing a national wage structure that minimizes disparities and incentivizes workers. Through today’s Bills we commence fulfilling that pledge.

¶ 03 Further, national security is not a simple topic; it is broad and complex. Among its many elements, economic security is only one. If we protect economic security, only then can we drive development. We know the fate of countries that became economically fragile. For economic development and economic security, both public servants and private sector employees contribute equally and bear equal responsibility. Therefore, by empowering both, we can achieve economic development. In our Budget this year we significantly raised public sector salaries to strengthen them to take this program forward. Immediately thereafter, we also sought to increase private sector wages, but due to various obstacles, the opportunity did not arise then.

¶ 04 Also, our Constitution sets out the Government’s duties. Chapter VI, Article 27(7) states: “The State shall eliminate economic and social privilege and disparity and the exploitation of man or by the State, and shall remove the misuse of human labour.”

¶ 05 Because past governments failed in this duty, private sector workers had to take to the streets to win their professional rights. We remember Roshen Chanaka from Katunayake who lost his life in 2011 while protesting for labour rights. Such tragedies befell our youth due to the negligence of past governments. Our Government understands this duty well and is fulfilling it.

¶ 06 There is also a segment—retired tri-forces heroes—engaged in the private security sector.