Sri Lanka
Overview of national employment policies
- Has national employment policy
- Yes
- Adoption of national employment policies
- 1ST revision in 2012; 2ND revision in 2017
- Is the NEP under revision?
- No
Dialogue and stakeholders in the formulation process
- National
- Ministry in charge of economy/planning/finance
- Yes
- Ministry in charge of employment
- Yes
- Sectoral ministries
- Yes
- Trade unions
- Yes
- children
- -
- Other
- Yes
- Employers’ organisations
- Yes
- ILO
- Yes
- Regional
- No
- Local
- No
- N.A.
- -
Coordinating actor in formulating the employment policy
- Ministry in charge of employment/labour
- Yes
- Ministry in charge of economy/finance/planning
- -
- Sectoral ministry
- -
- Other
- -
- N.A.
- -
Additional information:
Department of Manpower and Employment, Ministry of Labour and Trade Unions RelationsEmployment policy goals
- Economic growth
- -
- Decent work
- -
- Employment as central to development strategy
- -
- Employment creation /promotion
- -
- Ensure equal opportunities / prevent discrimination in employment
- Yes
- Freely chosen employment
- Yes
- Full employment
- Yes
- Poverty reduction
- -
- Productive employment
- Yes
- Protection of workers' rights
- -
- Reduce unemployment
- -
- Reduce underemployment
- -
- Social inclusion
- -
- Environment/green jobs
- -
- Other
- Yes
- N.A.
- -
Additional information:
Objectives of the National Human Resources and Employment Policy: i. To promote the attainment of full, productive and freely chosen employment for all women and men in Sri Lanka; ii. To develop a highly competent, globally competitive, multi-skilled and productive workforce; iii. To improve incomes and the quality of life of the working population across different sectors and regions; iv. To provide the fullest possible opportunity to each worker without discrimination, to qualify for and to use his/her skills and endowments in a job for which he/she is best suited so that worker motivation and productivity are maximized; and v. To safeguard the basic rights and interests of workers in line with national labour laws and key international labour standards.Strategic objectives
- Strategic objectives
- - Macroeconomic Policy;
- Human Resources Planning, Development and Productivity;
- School Education;
- Higher and Professional Education;
- Vocational Skills and Employability;
- Career Guidance and Counselling;
- Enhancing Employability of Youth;
- Science, Technology and Innovation Skills;
- Sectoral Policies (Agricultural sector; Manufacturing Sector; Tourism Sector; ICT and BPO Sectors; Health Services; Ports & Shipping Sector; Environment Friendly (Green) Jobs; Infrastructure Investments; Creative Industry (Visual and Performing Arts, Crafts, Entertainment Arts and Literature); Other Emerging Spheres);
- Informal Employment;
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SME);
- Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable Groups, Disabled Persons and those in less developed Regions;
- Foreign Employment;
- Public Service Employment;
- Mainstreaming Gender;
- Labour Market Information and Employment Services;
- Social Dialogue Institutions and Labour Relations;
- Wages;
- Social Protection.
Employment targets
- Employment opportunities
- -
- Adequate earnings and productive work
- -
- Decent hours
- -
- Work that should be abolished
- -
- Equal opportunity and treatment in employment
- -
- Social security
- -
- Social dialogue - Workers' and employers' representation
- -
- Other
- -
Action plan for implementation
- National action plan
- -
- Subnational action plan
- -
Coordination framework
- NEP coordination framework?
- No
Monitoring indicators
- Employment opportunities
- -
- Adequate earnings and productive work
- -
- Decent hours
- -
- Work that should be abolished
- -
- Equal opportunity and treatment in employment
- -
- Social security
- -
- Social dialogue - Workers' and employers' representation
- -
- Other
- -
Target groups
- Youth
- Yes
- Women
- Yes
- Informal workers
- Yes
- Rural workers
- Yes
- Older persons
- Yes
- People with disabilities
- Yes
- Migrants workers
- Yes
- Other
- Yes
- N.A.
- -
- No target group
- -
Additional information:
Other: vulnerable, disadvantaged and conflict affected youth groups; primary health care workers in the field and in primary level hospitals ; vulnerable groups, and those in less developed regions ; child labour; poor and unskilled labour ; sick persons in employment ; domestic workers ; redundant workers; unemployed, underemployed; students; the more educated workers; school leavers; own account workers; young widows; formal sector worker; the poor and the unemployed in the active age group; affected workers of HIV/ AIDS.