BANGKOK (ILO News) – The Republic of Maldives has become the 183rd member State of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations agency that deals with work and workplace issues.

The membership came into force on 15 May 2009 when H.E. Mr Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Republic of Maldives, submitted a letter to Mr Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, containing the formal acceptance by the Republic of Maldives of the obligations of the Constitution of the ILO. The Government will pay US$4,000 annually in membership fees. Work in the country will be organized via the ILO Office in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ms Sachiko Yamamoto, Regional Director, ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific said: “We are delighted with this positive development. We warmly welcome the Republic of Maldives to the ILO and look forward to working closely with the government, workers’ and employers’ organizations to promote decent work for the people of the Republic of Maldives”.

The Maldivian archipelago consists of about 1,200 small low-lying islands, of which around 200 are inhabited and 87 are developed as resort islands. The population is about 299,000, of whom some 81,000 are migrant workers. The major generators of income and employment are tourism and fishing.

The country has been a member of the United Nations since 21 September 1965.