The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a joint proposal to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Convention (188) on work in the fishing industry, paving the way for new regulations to improve standards in the sector. The convention, adopted at the 96th International Lab…
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a joint proposal to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Convention (188) on work in the fishing industry, paving the way for new regulations to improve standards in the sector. The convention, adopted at the 96th International Labour Conference in 2007, sets benchmarks for decent working conditions, access to medical care, health facilities, and safety for fishing communities. Sri Lanka’s fishing industry, which employs more than 315,000 workers, continues to operate at a basic level due to its traditional practices and faces significant challenges in occupational safety, health, and service conditions. Officials said ratification of Convention 188 will help introduce internationally recognized standards to address these issues. The proposal was presented jointly by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources and Ocean Resources and the Minister of Labour. The Cabinet’s approval allows regulations to be implemented as a preliminary step toward establishing the standards required under the convention. (Newswire)