COLOMBO, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has issued a gazette notification allowing women to work night shifts as sanitary workers and food service attendants, local media reported on Sunday.

Minister of Labor Anil Jayantha Fernando introduced the new regulations through an amendment to the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act.

The amended rules permit women over 18 to work as janitorial attendants and food service attendants between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and require employers to provide suitable accommodation, transportation, and adequate health and safety protections.

The measure aims to improve workforce participation, as the female labor force participation rate is low in Sri Lanka at about 30 percent. ■