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Sri Lanka Raises Fines for Specified Child Employment Offences to Rs. 100,000
Sri Lanka has increased fines for specified offences under its child employment legislation from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000, following an amendment to the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act.
Sri Lanka has introduced higher financial penalties for specified offences relating to the employment of children and young persons under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956.
The Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2026 was passed by Parliament on 20 August 2026 and certified by the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, on 8 September 2026.
The amendment increases the applicable fines from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000 for specified offences under the principal Act, strengthening the financial penalties associated with violations of the relevant provisions.
Higher Penalties for Specified Offences
The amendment revises penalties relating to specified provisions of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act. The changes are relevant to employers and organisations whose employment practices fall within the scope of the legislation.
The increase represents a tenfold rise in the applicable fine, from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000. The revised penalties highlight the importance of understanding the legal requirements governing the employment of children and young persons in Sri Lanka.
The increased fines apply to the offences covered by the amended provisions and should not be interpreted as a uniform penalty for every child employment-related offence.
Understanding Sri Lanka’s Child Employment Laws
Sri Lanka’s Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act establishes legal requirements concerning the employment of children and young persons. The legislation forms part of the country’s broader framework for protecting young people from unlawful employment practices.
The amendment updates the financial penalties associated with specified offences under the existing legislation. It is therefore important for employers and HR professionals to distinguish between the provisions that have been amended and the wider requirements that continue to apply under labour law.
What Employers and HR Professionals Should Know
The amendment serves as a reminder for employers to review their recruitment procedures and employment policies against applicable legal requirements.
Human resource teams and business leaders should ensure that their hiring practices comply with the provisions governing the employment of children and young persons. Organisations should also keep up to date with legislative changes and seek qualified legal advice where clarification is required.
Understanding applicable labour laws is an important part of responsible recruitment, workplace governance and employment compliance.
A Focus on Responsible Employment Practices
The increase in fines marks an update to Sri Lanka’s legal framework governing specified child employment offences. By raising the applicable financial penalties, the amendment reinforces the importance of compliance with the relevant provisions of the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act.
For employers, HR professionals and business leaders, awareness of these changes is essential to maintaining lawful and responsible employment practices
