Jan 05, Colombo: Sri Lanka main opposition United National Party (UNP) MP Jayalath Jayawardana has questioned why Sri Lanka has not deposited its instrument of ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Addressing a press conference of the UNP trade unions, the MP asked the Minister of Labour Gamini Lokuge and Minister of Foreign Employment Promotions Dilan Perera to clarify the reasons for not ratifying the convention 189.

He said this is crucial for Sri Lanka that has two million expatriate workers whose remittances are a major pillar of the economy. He demanded to ratify the convention instead of calling them as heroes.

Provisions of the Domestic Workers Convention No. 189 and Recommendation No. 201, adopted in June 2011, are a strong recognition of the economic and social value of domestic work and a call for action to address the existing exclusions of domestic workers from labor and social protection.

ILO says that given that most domestic workers are women, the new standards are an important step to advance gender equality in the world of work and ensure women’s equal rights and protection under the law.