The Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend fines imposed under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956, which prohibits the employment of children under 16 and regulates the work of those aged 16 to 18, banning hazardous occupations that threaten their health, safety, or morals.
Under the current law, offenders face a maximum fine of Rs. 10,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, in addition to compensation payable to the affected child. The Labour Ministry has deemed this penalty outdated and insufficient as a deterrent.
The proposed amendments will increase fines in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 138 and 182, both of which Sri Lanka has ratified, to strengthen protections for children and align with global labour standards.
