Parliament is set to consider amendments to child labour legislation that would raise maximum fines from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000, aligning Sri Lanka with international labour standards.

Sri Lanka's Parliament is scheduled to examine amendments to child labour laws that would significantly strengthen penalties for violations. The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children (Amendment) Bill proposes raising fines tenfold under the 1956 Act, moving the maximum penalty from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000. The second reading is scheduled for August 20.

According to the Ministry of Labour, the existing fine structure has become insufficient as a deterrent against violations. The current legislation, last amended in 2003, permits courts to impose fines of up to Rs. 10,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, alongside compensation payments to affected children. The new proposal would update minimum fines across three sections of the legislation—Sections 7(3), 13(2) and 20(a)(3).

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by MP Sunil Rajapaksa, recently reviewed the Bill and approved it as necessary. Committee members indicated that the revision aligns Sri Lanka with International Labour Organization conventions. The existing law prohibits employment of children below 16 years and imposes restrictions on work for those aged 16–18, particularly banning hazardous occupations that could endanger health, safety or morals.

The committee meeting also examined performance reports from several labour-related government bodies, including the Department of Labour, Department of Manpower and Employment, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.