Topic
Employment
1,754 speeches · 310 speakers
Party share
By the speaker's party · counts only, no scoring. "Unattributed" = speeches not resolved to an MP.
Most active on this topic
| # | Member | Speeches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Sajith Premadasa, M.P. SJB | 84 |
| 2 | Hon. Ravi Karunanayake, M.P. NDF | 78 |
| 3 | Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha, M.P. JJB | 60 |
| 4 | Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa, M.P. JJB | 45 |
| 5 | Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe, M.P. JJB | 41 |
| 6 | Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, M.P. JJB | 32 |
| 7 | Hon. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, M.P. JJB | 31 |
| 8 | Hon. Chathuranga Abeysinghe, M.P. JJB | 30 |
| 9 | Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, M.P. NDF | 29 |
| 10 | Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney at Law, M.P. SJB | 23 |
Speeches
1,754 on this topic- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB AI summary Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara supported the Bills under debate, stating that they would help address exploitation in the private security sector by ensuring fair wages. He argued that wage increases for private sector employees would motivate workers, strengthen both public and private sector labour, and contribute to economic growth. He urged all parties to support the measures despite opposition or obstruction. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara JJB AI summary Hon. Major General (Rtd.) G.D. Sooriyabandara supported the Bills amending the Employees’ National Minimum Wage Act to raise the private sector minimum wage to Rs. 30,000 in two stages, citing previous increases in 2021 and 2024. He linked the measure to the Government’s policy pledge to establish a fair national wage structure, reduce disparities, and strengthen economic security alongside earlier public sector salary increases. He also referred to the State’s constitutional duty to eliminate exploitation and misuse of labour, noting past labour struggles including the death of Roshen Chanaka, and highlighted the relevance of wage protections to retired tri-forces personnel working in private security. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran ITAK AI summary Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran welcomed the Workers’ National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill and the Government’s salary increases, but said wage rises must keep pace with sharp increases in the cost of goods and services, including for plantation and private sector workers. He then raised concerns about ongoing mass grave investigations, alleging widespread massacres of Tamils in the North and East from Independence to 2009, and called for investigations to be conducted to international standards with international cooperation. He argued that domestic mechanisms had failed to earn public trust and appealed for international justice for those killed. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Wasantha Piyathissa - Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister supported amendments to the Employees’ National Minimum Wage and related Bills, stating that they would legally implement Budget relief for over five million private sector workers. He defended the Government’s development agenda, citing programmes on irrigation rehabilitation, agriculture, dairy production, rural roads, housing, education reform, digitalization, and poverty reduction through family development plans and cooperatives. He also criticized the Opposition’s claims and said the Government was pursuing fiscal discipline and legal action against misuse of public property as part of its broader reform programme. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera SJB AI summary Welcoming the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill’s increase from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 30,000, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera argued that plantation workers remain inadequately protected despite prior assurances of a Rs. 1,700 daily wage. He urged the Government to begin negotiations with plantation companies and include a mechanism in the forthcoming Budget to implement that wage, alongside action on promised housing and infrastructure for plantation communities. He also raised concerns about the tea sector, stating that smallholders who contribute most tea exports face low green leaf prices, weak yields, and insufficient ministerial intervention following past fertilizer-related disruptions. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Lakmali Hemachandra, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Lakmali Hemachandra explained that the two Budgetary Relief Allowance amendment Bills require a two-thirds majority only because they are being passed simultaneously with the National Minimum Wage amendment, following a Supreme Court determination. She argued that the Rs. 3,500 allowance is not being removed in a way that cuts workers’ pay, but is being absorbed into the basic wage while the minimum wage is increased, with a further step to Rs. 30,000 in January to allow employers, including SMEs, to adjust. She also urged the Minister to establish a regular mechanism for periodic review of private-sector wages instead of relying on ad hoc legislation. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan DTNA AI summary Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan supported the proposed amendment to the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Bill to set plantation workers’ minimum wage at Rs. 1,700 per day or an equivalent monthly wage. He called for a government investigation into the July 1983 Welikada Prison massacre of Tamil political prisoners, linking it to Black July and noting that other major killings are being investigated. He also urged Ministers to visit Mannar, consult local representatives and residents, and halt ilmenite mineral sand mining and address wind power projects in Pesalai and surrounding areas, warning that continued activity without community consent could lead to conflict. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga JJB AI summary Hon. (Mrs.) Oshani Umanga said the Government had achieved a private-sector wage increase alongside the public-sector increase through consensus among trade unions, employers and the State, presenting it as part of its working-class mandate and economic recovery programme. She argued that higher basic wages would strengthen household incomes through EPF, ETF, gratuity and bonuses, encourage youth employment, improve productivity, and support macroeconomic stability, while noting lower inflation, a stronger rupee and reduced PAYE burdens. She also cited increased foreign direct investment, approval of 57 projects in six months and an expected 14,000 additional private-sector jobs as evidence that the Government’s policies were expanding employment and investment. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka SJB AI summary Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka welcomed measures to increase private-sector wages through amendments to the Budgetary Relief Allowance laws and National Minimum Wage framework, particularly the absorption of the Rs. 3,500 relief allowance into basic salary. He cautioned that abolishing the separate allowance could exclude private-sector workers from future budgetary relief and worsen wage disparities, especially for informal workers lacking wage protections, pensions, safety measures, or reliable data coverage. He also criticized the Government over rising taxes and living costs, unfulfilled promises on fuel, electricity, VAT reductions, pensions, estate workers’ wages, and raised concern over increasing shootings and national security issues. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi JJB AI summary Welcoming amendments to the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Act and the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, the speech states that the Government is extending wage relief to private-sector workers, including a proposed minimum daily wage of Rs. 1,700 for categories such as garment, shop, and domestic workers. It contrasts this with previous governments’ handling of worker issues and says discussions are under way with plantation companies to raise plantation wages in line with the cost of living, with further measures expected in the next Budget. It also refers to Government plans to provide plantation workers with permanent housing, 10-perch land plots, and fixed addresses, while noting a delay in the planned commencement. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan SJB AI summary Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan welcomed the Bill increasing the national minimum wage for private-sector employees, but argued that plantation workers remain underpaid and pressed the Government to implement a daily plantation wage of Rs. 1,700 or Rs. 2,000 as previously pledged. He questioned why the Government, despite its parliamentary majority, had not secured this increase and said a motion would be brought seeking support. He also called for Youth Clubs to be created according to estate areas rather than only GN divisions and warned against political interference through local authority leadership. He further welcomed Indian-assisted plantation housing plans while urging faster implementation, and asked that promised Government takeovers of estate hospitals be completed to ease pressure on district and urban hospitals. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj JJB AI summary Kitnan Selvaraj supported the National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Bill, citing serious wage, welfare, housing and basic service issues faced by private-sector and plantation workers. He argued that past estate privatization and Collective Agreement mechanisms had failed plantation workers, and said the Government had shifted wage-setting to the Wages Board while working toward longer-term landownership or stakeholder arrangements for workers. He stated that the Government had set a Rs. 1,700 minimum daily wage for plantation workers and was negotiating to secure a Rs. 2,000 daily wage. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Mano Ganesan SJB AI summary Mano Ganesan welcomed welfare proposals but argued that wage and tax policies can offset benefits, and said plantation estate workers have been neglected despite budget references to a Rs. 1,700 wage. He rejected reliance on the Wages Board and urged the Government to reform the plantation model so workers become stakeholders, with a new business plan rather than piecemeal wage increases. He also asked the Youth Affairs Ministry to amend the National Youth Services Council circular limiting registration to one youth association per Grama Niladhari division, arguing that divisions with much larger populations, especially in estate areas and Colombo, require population-based provision. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha JJB AI summary Hon. Sanjeewa Ranasingha supported the Bills amending the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Acts and the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, stating that they legally implement long-anticipated private-sector wage increases and complement the Government’s 2025 Budget measures to address public-sector salary anomalies. He argued that the Government had engaged employers and trade unions to secure the best possible wage outcome, while also taking steps to diversify markets and protect employment amid external economic pressures, including risks to the garment sector. He said the IMF programme was necessary because of the country’s prior bankruptcy and linked the wage reforms to the National People’s Power Government’s broader political and economic transformation agenda. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Attorney-at-Law SLPP AI summary Namal Rajapaksa criticized the Government’s handling of salary increases, arguing that tax policy reduces the benefit to employees and that election promises have been delayed. He alleged political victimization and interference in the public service, suppression of trade unions, halted recruitments, and failure to support private-sector workers affected by factory closures. He also objected to demolitions of informal tourism-related businesses without a fair process and accused the Government of prioritizing major business interests over small earners, while warning against politicizing the Youth Societies Movement through the National Youth Services Council. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe JJB AI summary Mahinda Jayasinghe rejected Opposition claims of political “witch-hunts” and argued that the Government was proceeding with investigations and policy commitments, including probes into alleged frauds such as those relating to the Cultural Fund. He said the Government had delivered a major private-sector wage increase but acknowledged unresolved labour issues in the public and private sectors, urging trade unions to allow time for planned measures including a Wages Commission, an Education Council, and reforms to professionalize education-related services. He also stated that the Government had identified 48 tanks with unauthorized constructions around them and was beginning demarcation and removal work according to a clear policy. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour JJB AI summary The Deputy Minister said the Bills provide a historic increase in private sector wages, raising the basic wage from Rs. 17,500 to Rs. 30,000 by the following January, following earlier public sector increases. He stated that the process was delayed by a legal challenge from a trade union not represented in the National Labour Advisory Council, and said the Government had reconvened the NLAC after a long lapse to pursue tripartite dialogue. Responding to criticism on estate worker wages, he said existing collective agreements signed in September 2024 set wages until September 2027, while the Government would seek further improvements through discussions with employers and unions. He argued that a proposed Committee-stage amendment for a Rs. 1,600 daily estate wage could not be made through the present Bills. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi SJB AI summary Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi welcomed the wage-related Bills for private sector workers but argued that the proposed relief is inadequate for workers and small entrepreneurs facing high living costs. He questioned unmet election promises, including higher estate-sector wages and jobs for graduates, and urged the Government to state openly what it can deliver and seek practical proposals from others. He criticized continued reliance on blaming previous governments, alleged misconduct such as double fuel allowances and political inducements at local level, and called for credible economic plans as debt servicing resumes. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law JJB AI summary Hon. Nilusha Lakmali Gamage supported the Second Reading of amendments to the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Acts and the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, stating that they implement Budget 2025 proposals to raise private sector minimum wages. She outlined the increases from April 2025 and January 2026, including monthly and daily minimum wage revisions, and noted that the increases would form part of the basic wage for EPF, ETF and relevant pension contributions. She said the measures align with ILO principles on minimum wage protection and would encourage workers, especially youth, to consider private sector employment alongside government jobs. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →
- 22 July 2025 The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake NDF AI summary Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, speaking during debate on the Budgetary Relief Allowance and National Minimum Wage amendment Bills, urged the Government to address reduced police allowances and proceed with police salary increases. He argued that Sri Lanka’s economic recovery began before the current administration, under the IMF programme and during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidency, and cautioned that tariff and tax impacts on the garment sector could endanger many jobs. He also criticized statements on food imports in an agrarian country and called for practical, legally consistent action on removing encroachments around tanks and coastal zones, beginning with government structures rather than selectively targeting private ones. Debate: National Minimum Wage of Workers and Budgetary Relief Allowance Bills (Second and Third Readings) Read →