Sri Lanka’s Government, employers and workers are working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to strengthen the country’s wage-setting institutions.

A three-day workshop held from September 8 to 10 reviewed existing wage-setting institutions and practices and identified priorities to strengthen them through evidence-based approaches and social dialogue.

The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Labour in partnership with the ILO, brought together representatives of the Government, employers’ and workers’ organisations, academia and technical experts.

Participants discussed minimum wage-setting principles, workers’ and families’ needs, economic factors, wage and labour market trends, collective bargaining, implementation and compliance.

The discussions also focused on export-oriented sectors such as tea and ready-made garments, where wage-setting and social dialogue are relevant to maintaining competitiveness in global supply chains.