The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, on International Women’s Day, this Adjournment Motion by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus is not only about benefits for women; it is about all. We urge ratification of ILO Convention No. 190, adopted at the 108th Session on 21 June 2019, to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work, benefitting both women and men.

¶ 02 Hon. Minister, considering women’s labour force participation, we cannot be satisfied with where our women stand. A key reason is violence and harassment at work — physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual. Surveys show 40% of women who left employment would return if such harassment stops. Imagine the impact on the economy. Whether in public, private, or domestic work, from the moment a woman steps out — on the street, bus, or workplace — she enters the “world of work.” Eliminating all violence and harassment there and ensuring a safe work environment yields a return to our economy. Therefore, I present this proposal to bring Convention No. 190 into force.

¶ 03 Accordingly, I move:

¶ 04 “Recognizing everyone’s right to a world of work free from gender-based violence and harassment, the International Labour Conference at its 108th Session in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21 June 2019, adopted Convention No. 190 concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.

¶ 05 As defined by national laws and practices, this Convention protects workers and other persons in the world of work, regardless of contractual status, including trainees and apprentices, those whose employment has ended, volunteers, jobseekers and applicants, and addresses employers’ duties and responsibilities. It applies to both public and private sectors, formal and informal economies, and urban and rural areas.

¶ 06 Therefore, each Member ratifying the Convention undertakes to respect, promote and realize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment. However, Sri Lankan women still lack such a safe environment due to Sri Lanka not yet taking the steps necessary to ratify ILO Convention No. 190.

¶ 07 Hence, marking International Women’s Day on March 08, this House urges the Government to take steps to ratify ILO Convention No. 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work for Sri Lanka, and thereby empower women at the workplace.”