Sri Lanka denies fishermen’s’ rights as it celebrates Labour Day
Colombo (AsiaNews) – May 1st has two faces in Sri Lanka. On the one hand the p0ublic demonstrations led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s United People's Freedom Alliance (UFPA), and the opposition United National Party (UNP) together with the main unions. On the other, everyday people, seasonal workers and fishermen whose rights have yet to be recognised and who are pressing the government to ratify the International Labour Organisations convention.
Herman Kumara, secretary general World Forum For Fisher People (WFFP) and head of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) tells AsiaNews that the fishermen have been waiting for over two years for the government to ratify the so-called ILO convention on fishing standards, first promulgated in 2007. It is a fundamental instrument “for the safety and the rights of the fish workers on fishing vessels” affirms Kumara, “the importance is it recognizes fishers as fish workers, which give the legal entity to demand the workers rights along with the other workers in the working class”.
The NAFSO chief confirms that the Colombo government has never recognised the ILO document, but adds that the current government’s attitude towards fishermen is similar to their attitude to small farmers, farm hands and women. This is why NAFSO members decided to mark May 1st Potuvil, Ampara district, to urge marginalised classes to unite with their battle for the recognition of essential rights that the Colombo government refuses to conceded to many workers.
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23/11/2009
23/11/2020 13:34
