Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment)

Hon. Speaker of Parliament endorses the certificate on the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill, Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill, and National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Bill

The Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (23) endorsed his certification on the three Bills, namely, the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill to amend Act No. 36 of 2005, the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill to amend Act No. 4 of 2016, and the National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Bill.

The Second Reading debate on this set of three Bills was held yesterday (22) in Parliament, at which all three Bills were passed by Parliament.

This set of three Bills was presented to Parliament for the First Reading on 03.06.2025.

Accordingly, the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill (to amend Act No. 36 of 2005) shall come into operation as the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 9 of 2025; the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill (to amend Act No. 4 of 2016) shall come into operation as the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 10 of 2025; and the National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Bill shall come into operation as the National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2025.

Accordingly, by the provisions of the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 9 of 2025, the payment of the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers is deemed to have been discontinued with effect from 31st March 2025 and to have come into operation from 1st April 2025.

Further, by the provisions of the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 10 of 2025, the discontinuation of the payment of the Budgetary Relief Allowance, operative from 31st March 2025, is deemed to have come into operation from 1st April 2025.

In addition, the principal amendments introduced by the National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2025, are as follows:

1. For the period from 1st April 2025 to 31st December 2025:

National minimum monthly wage: Rs. 27,000 (an increase of Rs. 9,500)

National minimum daily wage: Rs. 1,080 (an increase of Rs. 380)

2. From 1st January 2026 onwards:

National minimum monthly wage: Rs. 30,000 (a further increase of Rs. 3,000)

National minimum daily wage: Rs. 1,200 (a further increase of Rs. 120)

Further, the Budgetary Relief Allowance has been incorporated as a component of the workers’ wage. The Act is deemed to have come into operation with effect from 1st April 2025.