Nov 20, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to amend the Wages Boards Ordinance, No. 27 of 1941, to incorporate provisions relating to 'Contract Labour' and to refer the proposed amendment to the Legal Draftsman to draft the amends to the Ordinance.

These amendments are proposed in such a way to protect the rights of labour and also to safeguard the employers in their business dealings. The direction of the Commissioner of Labour, or in appeal the Order of the Special Employment Relations Tribunal will play a key role to safeguard the rights of Labour under the amendments.

With the expansion of export trade, the employers in Sri Lanka had to compete with other producers for their export products across the boarders with or without tariff concessions in importing countries. Encountering the competitions, certain employers have resorted to employment of workmen on contract labour which is now gradually increasing.