Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 1952)

In its previous comment, the Committee had asked the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure for self-employed farmers the same association rights, including the right to represent members and the right to strike, that industrial workers are accorded under the Trade Unions Ordinance of 1935. It had noted that, while farmers may form farmers’ organizations in line with the provisions of the Agrarian Services (Amendment) Act, No. 4 of 1991, section 56(A)(4) of this Act, which identifies the purposes of farmers’ organizations, does not include the right to represent members in disputes and the right to engage in strikes. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that discussions with senior officials of the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations are taking place to discuss the issue of the right of association of self-employed persons in agriculture. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to amend its legislation to bring into conformity with the Convention and requests it to provide information on developments in this regard.