Fonds LK-NA/256 - Ministry of Labour

The designation of the Ministry of Labour was changed at different times. The Ministry of Labour, Industry and Commerce was established in 1931 under the provision of Donoughmore constitutions. The Ministry of Labour and Social Service was established in 1947 under the Soulbury Constitution. The Ministry of Labour, Industry and Fisheries was set up in the Fourth parliament under the Constitution of Ceylon. The Ministry of Labour and Nationalised Services was set up under the Fifth parliament. The Ministry of Labour Housing and Employment was set up under the Sixth Parliament. The Ministry of labour was set up under the Seventh Parliament and the First National State Assembly. The Ministry of Labour was harped with the task of imparting vocational skills to workers, and of safeguarding there rights as employees, ensuring that they work in a safe work place and in a healthy atmosphere, that they are taught their rights and obligations through programs of workers education, that they are found employment abroad when possible and finally once they retire, that provisions made for their old age. Apart from all this the Ministry of Labour has to ensure the maintenance of Industrial peace that can bring about rapid development. The Ministry has been able to achive these objectives with the co-operative of the workers and their Employers.