International labour standards in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Manel Ranathunga (right), a labour inspector, talks to a worker in a tea factory  ©ILO/Wei Xiangnan
There are 41 ILO Conventions ratified by Sri Lanka, which includes the eight core conventions. It recently ratified Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) in early 2016. The Government of Sri Lanka expressed its willingness to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108)
and the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155).


The ILO Office work with the Government of Sri Lanka and the social partners on follow up to the following conventions:
  • Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) & Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Under the Project on Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in Sri Lanka.
  • Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) – on the work with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and amendments and drafting of required legislation on occupational safety and health.
  • Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) & Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) – On work with the Government of Sri Lanka and the social partners on gender and related activities.
  • Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) & Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) – On work with the Government and social partners on provision of legal amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act.
  • Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) & Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - On work with the Government and the social partners on issues relating to trafficking of persons.
  • Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) & Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) – On work with the Government of Sri Lanka and the social partners in conducting research, surveys and studies on child labour related activities.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) – though not ratified by Sri Lanka, on work carried out in promoting employment opportunities for the disabled.
  • ILO Multilateral Framework on Migration – though not a convention itself, the framework was used as the basis for the formulation of the National Labour Migration Policy for Sri Lanka.
  • ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS – though not a convention itself, has been the base document in working with the social partners on HIV/AIDS related activities.