.: An Union for fish workers

Fisher community representatives from 7 coastal districts gathered on 30th Aug at NAFSO to discuss on registration of a Fish worker union. Fishers attached to NAFSO as members trying to register a fisheries union since the year 2009.

Sri Lanka Constitution and labour legislations provide legal background for labour unions, but when it comes to fisheries union registration, some barriers come in to play due to special characteristics of the fisheries sector such as change of master for fish workers, some times, within one trip to the sea.

Required office bearers were selected from the participated district representatives and pland for next 4 month were prepared during the program.

ABOUT NAFSO

NAFSO (National Fisheries Solidarity Movement), organizes fishermen to lobby the government to defend their rights and to bring about good environmental practice in coastal areas. ...NAFSO has helped a fishing community to take legal action against a proposal to build a five-star hotel on a mangrove where fish spawn."We are not against hotels, because they bring tourism and income. But 3,000 families and 15,000 fishermen use this lagoon and all of them could be affected by the developments. Only 200 would be employed by the hotel. The lagoon is our mother, and we must protect her." Jude Preman Fernando, local fisherman. At the present situation we are continuing our campaign with small scale fishermen to urge the government to take legal action against Destructive Fishing Practices around the coastal areas of Sri Lanka. View my complete profile

Praja Abhilasha Network

An Union for fish workers