The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I thank Hon. Rohini Kumari Wijerathna for this important, timely motion on International Women’s Day regarding ILO Convention No. 190.

¶ 02 Allow me to note a related matter. Our Education Cooperative Society was an institution where women suffered harassment and intimidation under past political authority — including egg attacks and psychological abuse to oust capable female officers. Today, regional elections were held in 100 zones of that Society, including in the Hon. Minister’s district. Our teachers’ union has secured victory in 59 zones decisively. Of 284 representatives, 281 — more than a two-thirds majority — have been won, reflecting a shift that will also help curb such violence, especially against our women colleagues.

¶ 03 C190 was adopted at the ILO’s 108th Session in 2019. Five years have passed without ratification by successive governments. Meanwhile, women have faced violence and psychological pressure both within and outside workplaces. Our Government and Ministry of Labour are focusing on this. From the day we assumed office, we commenced preliminary discussions on labour law reforms and are taking steps needed for ratification of C190, as well as attention towards other conventions such as C188 (Work in Fishing), C155 (Occupational Safety and Health), and C183 (Maternity Protection).

¶ 04 Sri Lanka’s female labour force participation is around 32% of the female population — very low by global comparison. Ratifying such conventions can help raise women’s participation in the workforce, across public, private, part-time, and informal sectors. We will work, with consensus of both employers and employees, to amend laws accordingly.