SL mulls improving labour protection for domestic workers

Colombo, Aug 12 Sri Lanka's Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala De Silva has proposed amendments to local laws that would increase protections for domestic workers and make them eligible for pension schemes, local media reported on Thursday.

De Silva was quoted in the Daily FT as saying that "relevant amendments to the bills to establish a wage board for domestic workers and to grant membership of the Employees Provident Fund and Employees Trust Fund to those domestic workers will be submitted to the Cabinet soon", reports Xinhua news agency.

In a meeting held with representatives of domestic workers rights groups, the Minister also suggested that individuals and agencies involved in brokering and marketing of domestic workers should be banned.

There are over 80,000 domestic workers in Sri Lanka, according to data from the country's Department of Census and Statistics.

Public concerns over the wellbeing of domestic workers have been rising after the recent death of an underage domestic worker who was employed at the residence of a prominent politician.