Sri Lanka must ratify ILO Convention 190 to combat workplace harassment: Shyamali Ranaraja

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Shyamali Ranaraja recently asserted the urgent need for the Government to ratify and enforce the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention No. 190 (C190) on workplace violence and harassment, emphasising its role in driving systemic changes in workplace practices.

- By JANANI KANDARAMAGE

Her demand was made following the recent sexual assault of a female doctor in a main Government hospital in the country.

C190 was adopted in June 2019 and came into force on 25 June 2021 following its ratification by Fiji and Uruguay in 2021 that month. As of March 2025, a total of 49 countries have ratified the C190 on violence and harassment in the world of work, making it essential for Sri Lanka to follow suit in promoting safer workplaces that align with global standards.

Speaking at the “Women’s Leadership Forum” hosted by the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC), Ranaraja opined that the convention aims to prompt policymakers into establishing robust legal frameworks that safeguard all workers from violence and harassment, regardless of gender.

“A proper ratification and implementation of this convention will create a legal obligation for both employers and the Government to enforce accountability mechanisms, ensuring that victims of harassment at workplaces are offered effective redress to their concerns," she stressed.