Human Right to Work ILO

The International Labour Organisation (ILP)  has identified 8 fundamental Conventions, covering  rights at work:

• Freedom of association
• Right to collective bargaining.
• Elimination of forced or compulsory labour.
• Abolishing child labour.
• Elimination of  employment and occupation.

These principles are also covered by the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998) 

https://www.ilo.org/declaration/thedeclaration/textdeclaration/lang--en/index.htm

Article 23 of the UDHR guarantees everyone "the right to work, to free employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment."

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) provides in article 6(1) for the "right to work, which includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work."

This right encompases work, or engage in productive employment, and may not be prevented from doing so.

Under article 1(2) of ILO ICESCR

Convention No. 122 each member shall ensure that "there is work for all who are available for and seeking work."

Sri Lanka Ratifications : 

ICESCR, 1966  ratified in Sri Lanka 11 Jun 1980.

(a) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966  ratified in Sri Lanka on 5 October 1981

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), 1979
ratified in Sri Lanka on 17 July 1980

There are 41 ILO Conventions ratified by Sri Lanka, which includes the 8 core conventions.

It recently ratified Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) in early 2016.

 The Government of Sri Lanka expressed its willingness to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (No. 108) and the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155).

Discussion 

Discuss how unlawful social media and other restrictions imposed by government would   violate Human Right to work with reference to UDHR, Access to information under 19th amendment, ILO principles and other laws?

What restrictions could be imposed on right to work and under what conditions.

Niranjan Meegammana
HR Researcher & Technologist
Digital Human Rights