Despite Sri Lanka having ratified more than 40 labour-related international conventions, the necessary domestic laws and regulations have not yet been introduced to implement many of them including the recently ratified International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention Number 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work, claimed National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) member and trade unionist Anton Marcus.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said that ratifying an international labour convention would have little practical effect if the necessary legislation is not subsequently introduced to give effect to its provisions in Sri Lanka. “We’ve ratified around 44 international labour conventions. But, for many of them, the relevant laws and regulations have still not been introduced locally,” he said. He referred to the ILO Convention No. 190, which seeks to establish protections for workers against such conduct as an example. “Although it has been signed, the necessary legislation to implement it has not been enacted,” he said.

Labour Ministry Secretary S.M. Piyatissa was unavailable for comment, and attempts to contact the Labour Department also proved futile.

Sri Lanka deposited its instrument of ratification for the Convention No. 190 with ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo on 16 April. The ratification demonstrated the Government’s commitment to ensuring a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. Sri Lanka is to take steps to introduce the necessary domestic legal provisions by amending existing labour laws.