As it stands under the current Sri Lankan legal framework women are permitted to work
during night hours only in limited circumstances.
The need for the lifting of such restrictions had been proposed by the Minister of Labour and
Foreign Employment in Sri Lanka which subsequently received Cabinet approval on 8 th
August 2022.
The easing of such restriction will be reflected by way of amendments to the Shop and
Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No.19 of 1954, where
women over the age of 18 will be permitted to work before 6.00am or after 6.00pm.
Women form approximately only 30% of Sri Lanka’s workforce. It is anticipated that such
amendments will increase the female labour participation in the Sri Lankan workforce.