Although wage boards have been in existence in Sri Lanka since 1941, there has — until now — been no universal minimum wage for the private sector as a whole. Earlier this month parliament passed both the National Minimum Wage of Workers Bill and the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Bill. These establish a new national minimum wage of 10,000 Sri Lankan rupees (69.75 US dollars) per month and an additional allowance of 2,500 rupees (17.44 US dollars) per month for all those earning under 40,000 rupees (279.00 US dollars) per month. The Allowance must be backdated to May 1st 2015. There is to be no special dispensation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and employers not complying with the orders will face heavy fines and their Directors up to six months imprisonment.