What are the standard EPF contribution rates in Sri Lanka?

The standard minimum contribution is 8% from the employee and 12% from the employer, based on the applicable statutory earnings definition.

Can an employer deduct ETF from employee wages?

No. The ETF contribution is paid by the employer and must not be deducted from employee earnings.

Is overtime calculated the same way for every job?

No. The applicable statute, trade, normal working hours, Wages Board decisions and remuneration rules can affect overtime calculations.

YOUR CAREER, YOUR NEXT CHAPTER

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Practical career guidance for every step — from building a strong CV to walking confidently into your next interview.

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CAREER TOOLKIT

Everything to move your career forward

Explore practical resources designed to help you present your skills clearly, prepare confidently and make informed career decisions.

CV & Resume Guide

Learn how to structure your CV, highlight achievements and tailor your application to a vacancy.

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Interview Preparation

Practice common questions, prepare real examples and make a confident first impression.

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Skills Development

Identify valuable workplace skills and create a realistic plan to strengthen them.

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Career Planning

Set clear goals, compare opportunities and take your next step with purpose.

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YOUR AI CAREER COMPANION

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Need help improving your CV, preparing for an interview or choosing what to learn next? Ask MAYA for practical guidance in your preferred language.

CV and application tips

Interview practice prompts

Sinhala, English and Tamil

Career ideas and next steps

PRACTICAL GUIDES

Start with a few strong habits

Simple, actionable checklists you can use right away.

CV & APPLICATIONS

Make your CV easy to understand

A recruiter should quickly see what you can do and why it fits the role.

Use clear headings and consistent dates.
Show outcomes and achievements, not only duties.
Tailor your profile to each vacancy.
Check spelling, phone number and email.

INTERVIEW READINESS

Turn experience into strong answers

Prepare examples that show how you solve problems and work with people.

Research the company and role.
Use Situation, Task, Action, Result to structure examples.
Practice concise answers aloud.
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask.

SKILLS & GROWTH

Build skills employers can see

Choose one useful skill, practice consistently and show evidence of progress.

Pick a skill connected to your target role.
Set a small weekly learning goal.
Create a sample project or work example.
Add new skills to your CV honestly.

YOUR NEXT MOVE

A simple 3-step career plan

Choose a direction

Pick one or two role types that fit your strengths, interests and circumstances.

Prepare your story

Update your CV and collect examples that demonstrate your skills and results.

Take consistent action

Apply to suitable roles, keep track of applications and follow up professionally.

YOUR CAREER GROWTH STUDIO

Make your next career move with a plan.

A stronger career starts with small, consistent actions. Use this simple framework to turn your goals into a practical weekly routine.

Choose a target role and understand its key requirements.

Improve one part of your CV or professional profile each week.

Track applications, interview practice and follow-up actions.

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YOUR PROGRESS JOURNEYKEEP MOVING

Progress is built through preparation, action and learning—not overnight promises.

Ready for your next opportunity?

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PRACTICAL HR TOOLS

Salary, EPF, ETF & overtime calculators

Quick estimates for employees, HR teams and employers in Sri Lanka. Enter the relevant earnings base and check the rules that apply to your employment category.

EPF & ETF estimator

Illustrative statutory contribution estimate using the earnings figure you enter.

Monthly EPF/ETF earnings base (LKR)

Employee EPF rate

Employee EPF deductionLKR 4,000.00

Employer EPF (minimum 12%)LKR 6,000.00

Employer ETF (3%)LKR 1,500.00

Total employer contributionLKR 7,500.00

EPF is normally at least 8% employee + 12% employer; ETF is 3% employer-paid and must not be deducted from the employee. The earnings base depends on statutory definitions and the employee’s circumstances; this tool uses the same entered base for an estimate.

Overtime (OT) estimator

A common Shop & Office Employees Act calculation method. Confirm the applicable law and pay components for your role.

Monthly remuneration base (LKR)

OT hours

OT multiplier

Hourly divisor

Estimated base hourly rateLKR 208.33

OT rate per hourLKR 312.50

Estimated OT paymentLKR 3,125.00

The Department of Labour publishes different rules across laws and trades. This calculator is an estimate, not a determination of entitlement; confirm normal hours, eligible remuneration components, limits and any Wages Board decision before payroll use.

SRI LANKA HR KNOWLEDGE BASE

Labour law & workplace essentials

Practical starting points for employees and employers. Applicable provisions can differ by sector, job category, contract and current amendments.

Employment laws & regulations

Find official legislation, regulations and labour-code resources from the Department of Labour.

Acts & regulations

Official Labour Code

Wages, salary & leave

Learn about wage rules, overtime concepts, weekly holidays, annual holidays and public holidays under relevant laws.

Pay & leave

Salary & Leave Guide

EPF contributions

Standard minimum contribution is 8% from the employee and 12% from the employer, based on statutory total earnings.

Retirement savings

EPF Employer FAQ

ETF contributions

Employer contribution is 3% of the employee’s total monthly earnings. It must not be deducted from employee wages.

Employer-paid

ETF Employer FAQ

Maternity benefits

Entitlements depend on which law covers the employee and whether the employment is governed by shop-and-office rules or the Maternity Benefits Ordinance.

Family & wellbeing

Official guidance

HR compliance checklist

Keep employment terms, attendance, payroll calculations, leave records, statutory remittances and employee documentation organised.

HR operations

Legislation library

Important: This page provides general educational information and rough estimates, not legal, tax or payroll advice. Sri Lankan labour requirements can change and may differ by industry, employee category and the governing statute. Verify the latest official guidance and consult the Department of Labour or a qualified HR/legal professional before making employment or payroll decisions.

QUICK ANSWERS

Frequently asked questions

Short answers to common EPF, ETF and overtime questions.

Can an employer deduct ETF from my salary?

No. ETF is an employer contribution. The ETF Board states that the employer must not deduct the contribution from employee earnings.

What are the standard EPF contribution rates?

The standard minimum is 8% from the employee and 12% from the employer. The contribution base is determined by the EPF law and relevant earnings definitions.

Is overtime always calculated the same way?

No. The applicable law, industry, Wages Board decision, normal working hours and remuneration components can affect the calculation. Use the calculator as an estimate and confirm the rules for your employment.

Where can I check the latest labour rules?

Start with the official Sri Lanka Department of Labour Labour Code and salary/wages/leave pages linked above, then confirm any amendments or trade-specific rules relevant to your workplace.

THE MATAJOB HR PLAYBOOK

Practical HR systems for real workplaces

Original, ready-to-use workflows and checklists designed for Sri Lankan SMEs, HR officers, supervisors and employees—not just general career articles.

New employee onboarding map

A practical 1–7–30–60–90 day workflow to reduce missed documents and unclear expectations.

Before day one: offer, role, reporting line and document checklist
First week: safety, attendance, policies and buddy assignment
30/60/90 days: check-ins, training gaps and probation review

Fair disciplinary process guide

A neutral process map to support consistency, documentation and a fair opportunity to respond.

Record facts and preserve relevant evidence
Explain allegations clearly and allow a meaningful response
Keep an impartial record of findings and next steps

Follow the applicable law, contract, collective agreement and company policy; this is not a substitute for legal advice.

Monthly payroll pre-flight audit

Run a repeatable check before payroll is approved or statutory contributions are remitted.

Reconcile attendance, leave, OT approvals and salary changes
Check payslip deductions and EPF/ETF earnings bases
Match payroll totals to payment and remittance evidence

Structured interview scorecard

Make recruitment more consistent by scoring job-related evidence rather than gut feeling.

Set role criteria and weights before interviews
Ask candidates comparable core questions
Record evidence, score independently and document the decision

Grievance & conflict pathway

A simple escalation route that encourages early resolution while protecting privacy.

Listen without retaliation or premature conclusions
Clarify the concern, urgency and preferred outcome
Agree next steps, responsible owner and follow-up date

Resignation & exit control list

Keep exits professional, traceable and respectful of both parties.

Confirm notice terms and last working date
Plan handover, asset return and system access changes
Reconcile final pay, leave and statutory records under applicable rules