Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the ILO technical assistance mission in the field of wage policy which was carried out in May 2007. It notes, in particular, that the main findings of the mission’s assessment, which were endorsed by the Government and the employers’ and workers’ organizations, included: (i) the minimum wage-fixing system based on wages boards does not cover all employees in the private sector; (ii) need to design a wage policy taking into account the size of the informal economy; (iii) problems of wage-fixing and workers’ rights in export processing zones; (iv) recent trend characterized by declining real wages and very low wages in the private sector; and (v) growth in the wage gap by sex and region. The Committee further notes that whereas trade unions insisted on the need for setting wages that ensured decent living standards, the employers stressed the need to develop pay systems that link wages to enterprise performance. The Committee understands that the Government intends to pursue discussions on wage policy reform with the assistance of the ILO. It accordingly requests the Government to keep it informed of all future developments in this field.

Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government, including the current minimum wage rates in different sectors, copies of collective agreements in force and statistical information on the labour inspection results for 2005–06 showing the number of inspection visits, cases filed for underpayment and the amounts recovered. The Committee would appreciate if the Government would continue to supply up to date and documented information on all aspects of the application of the Convention in law and practice, both in terms of coverage and enforcement.