About the National Institute of Labour Studies
Incorporated by Parliament under the National Institute of Labour Studies Act, No. 12 of 2010 under the Ministry of Labour.
Dignified Work Force
Creating a dignified, knowledgeable, and globally competitive Sri Lankan workforce empowered by modern labour standards, social dialogue, and sustainable workplace productivity.
National Mandate
Empowering the actors of the world of work to promote decent work, industrial harmony, and socio-economic development through education, training, research, and consultancy.
Statutory Foundation & Institutional Leadership
The National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS) was originally established on 11 September 2007 and subsequently incorporated as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament — the National Institute of Labour Studies Act, No. 12 of 2010, certified on 06 October 2010.
Operating under the purview of the Ministry of Labour, the administration, management, and control of the affairs of the Institute are vested in a tripartite Board of Governors, while the Director General serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute.
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Tripartite Representation: Brings together government leadership, employers, and trade unions to advance social dialogue.
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International Collaboration: Active academic and research partnerships with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute of India.
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Trilingual Delivery: Programmes conducted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English across island-wide and online cohorts.
Three Specialized Academic Divisions
1. Labour Law & Industrial Relations
Covers Sri Lankan labour statutes, industrial dispute resolution, disciplinary inquiries, collective bargaining, social security laws (EPF/ETF/Gratuity), and international labour standards.
2. Human Resource Management
Delivers Diplomas, Certificates, and executive workshops in strategic HRM, organizational behaviour, performance management, talent development, and HR analytics.
3. Workplace Productivity & OSH
Focuses on occupational safety and health (OSH), workplace productivity enhancement, green productivity, office systems management, and digital transformation.