Permitted Hours of Work for Women

As it stands under the current Sri Lankan legal framework women are permitted to work during night hours only in limited circumstances.

The need for the lifting of such restrictions had been proposed by the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment in Sri Lanka which subsequently received Cabinet approval on 8 th August 2022.

The easing of such restriction will be reflected by way of amendments to the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No.19 of 1954, where women over the age of 18 will be permitted to work before 6.00am or after 6.00pm.

Women form approximately only 30% of Sri Lanka’s workforce. It is anticipated that such amendments will increase the female labour participation in the Sri Lankan workforce.