France ratifies the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), and the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188)

News | 28 October 2015
Today, the Government of France deposited with the International Labour Office (ILO) the instruments of ratification of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), and the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188).

Receiving the instruments of ratification, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said: “I am pleased that France is now one of the member States that have ratified Convention No. 181, which, while promoting cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies, seeks to ensure adequate protection for persons employed by these agencies. The ratification of Convention No. 188 by France is also an important step which I particularly welcome. This Convention, which seeks to ensure decent work for persons employed in the fishing sector, has not yet entered into force. Through this ratification, therefore, France is contributing to the goal of meeting the conditions for entry into force of the Convention well before the end of 2016, as laid down in the Action Plan adopted by the Governing Body in November 2010.”

Depositing the instruments of ratification, H.E. Ms Elisabeth Laurin, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, said: “In depositing these instruments for the ratification of Conventions Nos 181 and 188 with the ILO, France wishes to show once again its deep commitment to the ILO standards system and the effective application of international labour Conventions to ensure that globalization has a genuine social dimension. With Convention No. 181, we have a reference framework that is particularly useful for all organizations involved in supporting unemployed persons in the search for jobs. France, which possesses the second largest maritime area in the world, has given its support from the outset to the initiative launched by the maritime social partners in 2001, aimed at establishing a global labour code for seafarers. The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), has now complemented this work by providing an effective global labour standard for fishers. France is thus contributing to the entry into force of this Convention.”

According to estimates, nearly 40 million people work in commercial fishing worldwide. Conditions of work in the sector are generally difficult. Fishing entails long hours of arduous work in the often challenging marine environment. Fishers may be required to use dangerous equipment to catch, sort and stock fish. In many countries, the rate of accidents and fatalities in this sector are much higher than the national average across all occupations. Convention No. 188 therefore seeks to ensure that fishers enjoy decent conditions of work on fishing vessels, by establishing minimum requirements for work on board, conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security.

Convention No. 188 has now been ratified by six member States and will enter into force 12 months after the ratifications of ten Members, including eight coastal States, have been registered by the Director-General. In November 2010, the Governing Body adopted an Action Plan 2011–16 to achieve widespread ratification and effective implementation of the Convention.

With the ratification by France, Convention No. 181 now has 31 ratifications.
For more information on the international labour Conventions ratified by France:
/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11200:0::NO:11200:P11200_COUNTRY_ID:102632.