The Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) (Amendment) Act, No. 28 of 2024, introduces several significant changes to the principal enactment (Chapter 129). Here are the key amendments:

1. Title and Certification:
   • This amendment is officially titled the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) (Amendment) Act, No. 28 of 2024, certified on May 13, 2024.
2. Changes to Working Hours:
   • Section 10 is amended to clarify and extend permissible working hours for female employees. Females who are at least 18 years old may now work in certain industries, such as IT and BPO, before 6.00 a.m. or after 6.00 p.m. on any day.
3. Welfare and Security Provisions:
   • Section 66 is updated to ensure employers provide specific welfare measures for female employees working late hours. This includes security, transport facilities, and resting facilities for females employed after 10.00 p.m. and before 6.00 a.m.
4. Definitions and Scope:
   • Section 68 expands the definition of “office” to include institutions engaged in IT, knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), business process outsourcing (BPO), and related administrative and accounting work for institutions abroad.
5. Language Consistency:
   • In case of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and Tamil texts of the Act, the Sinhala text will prevail.

Download Amendment Act: http://documents.gov.lk/files/act/2024/5/28-2024_E.pdf