Labour Ministry clarifies Sri Lanka’s national minimum wage ranking
The Labour Ministry has clarified that a recent international comparison ranking Sri Lanka 120th globally in terms of its national minimum wage was based on 2024 data published by Visual Capitalist and was not an International Labour Organization (ILO) report.
The Ministry said the ILO has confirmed that it had no involvement in preparing or publishing the ranking.According to the Ministry, the report may have drawn minimum wage data from ILOSTAT, the ILO’s publicly available database containing internationally comparable labour statistics, including statutory minimum wages and purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted values.However, the ILO has cautioned that such comparisons should be interpreted carefully, as minimum wage systems differ significantly between countries in terms of geographical, sectoral and occupational coverage. Simple international rankings also do not necessarily reflect the effective coverage of minimum wages or compliance levels, the Ministry said.The Ministry further pointed out that Sri Lanka’s national minimum wage has undergone several substantial increases since the data used for the ranking was compiled.
At the beginning of 2024, the national minimum wage stood at Rs. 12,500 per month. It was increased to Rs. 17,500 with effect from September 11, 2024. In addition, workers were entitled to mandatory Budgetary Relief Allowances of Rs. 3,500, bringing the applicable minimum monthly remuneration to Rs. 21,000.The Ministry said it was unclear whether the international ranking was calculated using the Rs. 12,500 minimum wage, the revised Rs. 17,500 figure, or whether the Budgetary Relief Allowance was included.
It said that the national minimum wage was subsequently increased to Rs. 27,000 from April 2025 and to Rs. 30,000 from January 2026, with the previous Budgetary Relief Allowances incorporated into the new minimum wage.Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s current national minimum wage is Rs. 30,000 per month, compared with Rs. 12,500 at the beginning of 2024.
The Ministry said the reported 120th ranking, being based on 2024 data, does not reflect Sri Lanka’s current wage level.
It said the national minimum wage had increased by more than 87% between the beginning of 2024 and January 2026, and stressed that the reported ranking should therefore be viewed in its proper context rather than as an assessment of Sri Lanka’s present minimum wage position
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Why waLabour Ministry clarifies Sri Lanka’s national minimum wage ranking
4 September 2026 12:23 pm
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Colombo, Sep. 4 (Daily Mirror) – The Labour Ministry has clarified that a recent international comparison ranking Sri Lanka 120th globally in terms of its national minimum wage was based on 2024 data published by Visual Capitalist and was not an International Labour Organization (ILO) report.
The Ministry said the ILO has confirmed that it had no involvement in preparing or publishing the ranking.
According to the Ministry, the report may have drawn minimum wage data from ILOSTAT, the ILO’s publicly available database containing internationally comparable labour statistics, including statutory minimum wages and purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted values.
However, the ILO has cautioned that such comparisons should be interpreted carefully, as minimum wage systems differ significantly between countries in terms of geographical, sectoral and occupational coverage. Simple international rankings also do not necessarily reflect the effective coverage of minimum wages or compliance levels, the Ministry said.
The Ministry further pointed out that Sri Lanka’s national minimum wage has undergone several substantial increases since the data used for the ranking was compiled.
At the beginning of 2024, the national minimum wage stood at Rs. 12,500 per month. It was increased to Rs. 17,500 with effect from September 11, 2024. In addition, workers were entitled to mandatory Budgetary Relief Allowances of Rs. 3,500, bringing the applicable minimum monthly remuneration to Rs. 21,000.
The Ministry said it was unclear whether the international ranking was calculated using the Rs. 12,500 minimum wage, the revised Rs. 17,500 figure, or whether the Budgetary Relief Allowance was included.
It said that the national minimum wage was subsequently increased to Rs. 27,000 from April 2025 and to Rs. 30,000 from January 2026, with the previous Budgetary Relief Allowances incorporated into the new minimum wage.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s current national minimum wage is Rs. 30,000 per month, compared with Rs. 12,500 at the beginning of 2024.
The Ministry said the reported 120th ranking, being based on 2024 data, does not reflect Sri Lanka’s current wage level.
It said the national minimum wage had increased by more than 87% between the beginning of 2024 and January 2026, and stressed that the reported ranking should therefore be viewed in its proper context rather than as an assessment of Sri Lanka’s present minimum wage position.
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