## Private Sector Minimum Wage Rises to Rs. 30,000 📈

The Commissioner General of Labour has announced a mandatory increase in the national minimum wage for private sector employees, effective from January 1, 2026. • Wage Adjustment: The monthly minimum wage increases by Rs. 3,000, raising the threshold from Rs. 27,000 to Rs. 30,000. • Legal Framework: Implemented under the National Minimum Wage of Employees (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2025. • Coverage: Applies to all employers, including principal employers and those hiring through contractors/intermediaries. • Statutory Impacts: The revised wage must be used to calculate EPF, ETF, overtime, gratuity, maternity benefits, and leave payments. • Exclusions: Allowances received as of March 31, 2025 (excluding budgetary relief allowances) cannot be used to offset the minimum wage requirement. • Enforcement: Employees can report non-compliance via the Labour Department’s online Complaint Management System or local Labour Offices.