Maldives joins International Labour Organization

May 21, 2009 (LBO) - The Indian Ocean tourist paradise of Maldives has joined the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN agency which deals with labour issues said.

The membership started on May 15, with president Mohamed Nasheed accepting obligations under the constitution of the ILO.

"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," ILO regional director for Asia Sachiko Yamamoto said in a statement.

The Maldivian archipelago is made up of 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, ILO said.

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

ILO said work in the country will be organized through its office in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.