Organisation: Revolutionary Existence for Human Development (RED)
Venue: RED Office 2 / 15 Awariyawattha Katunayake
Participants: 20 garment factory workers from the Katunayake Free Trade Zone
Resource Person: Mr. Kalpa Maduranga
Date – 2026.05.24
A one-day awareness workshop on ILO Convention C190 concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work was organized by Revolutionary Existence for Human Development (RED) at its office in Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
The participants were 20 garment factory workers from the Katunayake Free Trade Zone and this awareness workshop was Facilitated by resource person Mr. Kalpa Maduranga trade unionist as well as social activist .
The workshop began with an ice‑breaking activity where participants shared their understanding of work‑related terms such as labour laws, trade unions, and gender. There after key distinction was made between sex (biological attributes) and gender (socially constructed roles and expectations), including a discussion on gender stereotypes.
The session highlighted how ILO Convention C190, adopted in 2019, is the first global legal instrument to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.
Futher they were educated Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on 16 April 2026, becoming the 55th country worldwide and the second in South Asia after Bangladesh.
Participants learned that violence and harassment include physical, psychological, sexual, and economic harm, and that the Convention protects all workers—formal and informal, permanent, temporary, contract, trainees, volunteers, dismissed workers, and job seekers.
There it was discussed The anti‑harassment law applies not only in the workplace but also in restrooms, canteens, changing rooms, work‑related travel, training sessions, social activities, employer‑provided accommodation, while working from home, during commuting, and in cases of cyber harassment via phone or digital platforms.
The workshop concluded that as a ratifying country, Sri Lanka requires joint action by government, employers, and workers to establish official workplace anti‑harassment policies
Finally the participants understood the important of how the workers must organize themselves through trade unions to collectively build a respectful working environment.
