The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, this Government is continuously intervening for the protection of private sector employees—the estate worker, the private worker, and the informal sector worker—through the National Minimum Wage legislation. If we are to rebuild the country, certain tax incentives are needed. We must discuss a national tax policy, provide input concessions for producers who can compete globally, and create more domestic jobs—paired with a living wage. With this wage reform, investors will know the minimum they must pay—Rs. 30,000—so there’s no room for undercutting. The Labour Department now has a clear job: ensure EPF/ETF are calculated and paid on the Rs. 30,000 basic.

¶ 02 There are still cases under the budgetary relief allowance laws because some places did not pay; where unions exist, we resolved many through discussion, but elsewhere cases are ongoing. Even some entitled employees are no longer alive. Therefore, we have brought together Acts No. 36 of 2005 and No. 4 of 2016 with the current Minimum Wage Amendment to establish a single minimum.

¶ 03 We are aware of upcoming challenges, especially in export industries, including new tariffs imposed by the US. We must seek new markets and give relief to our producers. We must safeguard the 5–6 million jobs in the private sector. The Government assumes this challenge by creating more investment opportunities without increasing state revenue burdens—taking Port City forward not as a white elephant but on a sustainable path—and by adjusting tariffs on necessary inputs for domestic producers and exporters. We also face dumping—goods sold here below cost of production abroad—harming local industries. We enacted the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties Act to ensure fair competition.

¶ 04 By stabilizing the economy and the private sector, our NPP Government will ensure everyone in private employment receives at least Rs. 30,000 from January, as pledged in the Budget. For workers’ rights—public servants’ pay, pension anomalies, private sector increases, and confirming the Rs. 1,700 estate daily wage—we are taking all necessary steps. Do not waste Parliament’s time shedding crocodile tears when the law is enforced. We will resolutely carry forward these measures to take the country forward. Thank you to all who supported.