An Evaluation of Sri Lankan Labour Standards in the light of the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation

Abstract

Among the 188 Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), eight Conventions are categorized as core Conventions. They are the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, Forced Labour Convention, Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, Equal Remuneration Convention, Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, Minimum Age Convention and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention. Sri Lanka has ratified all core Conventions while many other countries in our region have not ratified them. Therefore, Sri Lanka has an obligation to give effect to the principles embodied in the core conventions. The objective of this paper is to evaluate to what extent Sri Lankan labour legislation and other legislation expressly or implicitly embody the principles of the core conventions and to make suggestions to amend the legislation to enhance the protection of the rights and interests of employees.