Six-year labour pact promises better jobs and worker protection – but can Sri Lanka deliver?
– Sri Lanka has signed a six-year labour program promising better employment opportunities, stronger worker protection and expanded social protection, but the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on how effectively its commitments are implemented.The Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) 2026–2032 was signed yesterday by the Government, the International Labour Organization (ILO), employers’ organizations and trade unions, establishing a common framework for cooperation in the labour and employment sector.
The program identifies productive employment, workers’ rights, social protection, labour governance and social dialogue as key priorities.However, translating these broad commitments into tangible improvements for workers will require sustained implementation, effective labour institutions and continued cooperation among the Government, employers and trade unions.The program comes at a time when Sri Lanka’s labour market is undergoing significant changes amid evolving economic conditions. Against this backdrop, the new framework places particular emphasis on creating better employment opportunities, strengthening labour market institutions and improving access to social protection.
It also seeks to promote a safe, fair and inclusive working environment. The DWCP was developed through an extensive consultation process that began in 2024 with a review of the previous program, followed by consultations with key stakeholders. The National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) was also used as a platform to obtain the views of workers’ and employers’ representatives.
The new program is aligned with the Government’s national policy framework, “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life,” and seeks to link labour-sector priorities with broader national objectives, including building a productive economy, promoting inclusive development and improving citizens’ quality of life.Labour Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando, addressing the signing ceremony, stressed that economic growth and decent work should progress together.He said the Government, employers and workers have a collective responsibility to create a productive, inclusive and safe working environment. The parties have also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the program through continued social dialogue, consultation and monitoring of progress.The challenge, however, will be ensuring that the commitments contained in the six-year framework translate into practical outcomes for workers, particularly in terms of employment opportunities, labour protection and access to social protection.
The program is therefore expected to serve not merely as a policy framework but as a mechanism for measuring progress in Sri Lanka’s labour sector through 2032.UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche, ILO Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Joni Simpson, Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Labour S. M. Piyatissa and Commissioner General of Labour Nadeeka Wataliyadda were among those present at the signing ceremony, along with employer and employee representatives of the NLAC.