2022 Score

47

Score Decrease

2020 Score

49.5

Rating

Total Lack of
Decent Work

Fair
Wages

60

Decent
Working Hours

60

Employment
Security

60

Family
Responsibilities

25

Maternity
at Work

40

Safe
Work

50

Social
Security

60

Fair
Treatment

40

Child &
Forced Labour

75

Trade
Union

0

Fair Wages

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prescribe minimum wage rates in the country?Yes1§21-22 and 40-44 of the Wage Boards Ordinance; §3-9 of the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act 2016
Does the law require regular payment of wages?Yes1§2, 5 & 23 of the Wage Boards Ordinance; §19 and Regulation 17 under the Shop & Office Employees Act
Does the law require overtime compensation be at least 125% of the regular hourly rate?Yes1Regulation 7 of the Shop and Office Employees Act of 1954
Does the law require additional compensation for working on a weekly rest day?No0§7 of Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954
Does the law require additional compensation for night work?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located

Decent Working Hours

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law stipulate general working hours as 48 hours or lower?Yes1Regulation 3, 6 & 7 of the Shop and Office Employees Act of 1954; §67 of the Factories Ordinance, 1942
Does the law restrict maximum working hours including overtime to 56 hours per week?No0Regulation 6 of the Shop and Office Employees Act of 1954
Does the law require a weekly rest of at least 24 hours?Yes1§5 of Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954
Does the law require paid public holidays?Yes1§7 of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954; Holidays Act (No. 29 of 1971)
Does the law require at least three working weeks of paid annual leave?No0§6 of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954

Employment Security

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require written employment contracts or at least written employment particulars?Yes1§17 & Regulation 15 of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954
Does the law restrict the hiring of fixed-term contract workers?No0§54 of the Employees’ Councils Act, No.32 of 1979
Does the law limit the length of probation period including renewals to a maximum of 3 months?No0Regulation 15(g) of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954; Employment of Trainees (Private sector) Act No. 8 of 1978; §3(e) of the National Workers Charter, 1995
Does the law require a 30-day notice before contract termination?Yes1§31 of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1950
Does the law require severance pay at the rate of at least 2 weeks of wages for every year of service?Yes1§5 & 6 of Payment of Gratuity Act; Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act 1971 (2005 Schedule)

Family Responsibilities

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require parental leave for parents?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require at least one week of paid paternity leave for fathers?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require flexible work arrangements for workers with family responsibilities?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require paid nursing breaks?Yes1§12(B) of the Maternity Benefits Ordinance, 1939

Maternity at Work

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prohibits inquiring about pregnancy during recruitment?No0No applicable legal prohibitions could be located
Does the law require paid maternity leave of at least 14 weeks?No0§02 of the Maternity Benefits Ordinance, 1939, 1939; §18(B) of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954
Does the law require cash maternity benefit be at least 67% of a worker's former wage?Yes1§18(C) of the Shop and Office Employees Act 1954; §3-5 of the Maternity Benefits Ordinance, 1939
Does the law require maternity benefit be paid through contributory social insurance or universal benefits system?No0§18(C) of the Shop and Office Employees Act 1954; §3-5 of the Maternity Benefits Ordinance, 1939
Does the law protect workers from dismissals during or on account of pregnancy?Yes1§10 of Maternity Benefits Ordinance, 1939; §18(E) of Shop and Office Employees Act 1954

Safe Work

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require provision of free personal protective equipment to workers from employer?Yes1§32, 51, 53 & 58 of the Factories Ordinance, 1942, 1942
Does the law require the employer to train workers on health and safety issues?No0§26 of the Factories Ordinance, 1942
Does the law restrict work that is prejudicial to the health of the mother or the child?No0§10(B) of the Maternity Benefits Ordinance, 1939; §18(D) of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954
Does the law provide for employment injury benefit?Yes1§6, 12, Part III& Schedule IV of Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, 1934; ISSA Country Profile for Sri Lanka

Social Security

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law provide for an old age pension?Yes1§10 & 23 of Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1958; ISSA Country Profile for Sri Lanka
Does the law provide for a dependants'/survivors' pension?Yes1§25 of the Employees' Trust Fund Act, 1980; ISSA Country Profile for Sri Lanka
Does the law provide for unemployment benefit?No0No applicable legal provisions could be located
Does the law require paid sick leave for the first 6 months of sickness?No0§6(3 & 4) of the Shop and Office Employees Act; ISSA Country Profile for Sri Lanka
Does the law provide for invalidity benefit?Yes1§24 of the Employees' Trust Fund Act, 1980; ISSA Country Profile for Sri Lanka

Fair Treatment

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law require equal remuneration for work of equal value?No0§12 of the Constitution, 1978
Does the law prohibit sexual harassment in employment?Yes1§345 of the Penal Code of Sri Lanka, 1885
Does the law prohibit discrimination in employment matters?No0§12 & 17 of the Constitution, 1978
Does the law allow women to do the same jobs as men?No0§14(1)(g), Constitution, 1978; §02, Employment of Females in Mines Ordinance, 1937; §86, Factories Ordinance, 1942
Does the law guarantee basic labour protections for gig economy workers?Yes1Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1958; ISSA Country Profile for Sri Lanka

Child & Forced Labour

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law prohibit employment of children?Yes1§7, 9, 13, 20 and 34 of the Employment of Women, Young Persons, and Children Act, 1956
Does the law set employment entry age equal to or higher than the compulsory schooling age?No0§43 of the Education Ordinance; Compulsory Attendance of Children at Schools Regulation No. 1 of 2015
Does the law prohibit the employment of children in hazardous work under the age of 18 years?Yes1§10(2) of the Shop and Office Employees Act, 1954; Hazardous Occupations Regulations, 2010
Does the law prohibit forced labour?Yes1§11 of Constitution of Sri Lanka 1978; §358A, 360C, 360A(2), and 360A(4) of the Penal Code, 1885

Trade Union

QuestionAnswerScoreLegal Basis
Does the law allow workers to form and join unions of their own choice?No0§31 of the Trade Union Ordinance 1935
Does the law allow workers to bargain collectively with employers through their representative unions?No0§5-10 & 32(A)(g) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1950; USDOS CRHRP 2021
Does the law provide for the right to strike?No0§32, 48, Industrial Disputes Act, 1950; §67, Factories Ordinance, 1942; §02, Trade Union Ordinance, 1935
Does the law prohibit employers from terminating employment contracts of striking workers?No0§43 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1950