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Women's labour force participation: Labour Ministry to promote care economy
The Labour Ministry has planned to establish facilities related to child care and elderly care, including care centres in the country, with the aim of expanding opportunities for women to engage in economic activities.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (23), Ministry Secretary S.M. Piyatissa said that even well-educated women in the country leave their jobs after childbirth which is a grave loss to the economy. "The reason for that is the fact there are no child care facilities established in our country. When there is no one to look after the child, they have to give up their jobs," he said. "Hence, we are planning to establish facilities for child care so that one of the hindrances to female employment is lifted," he added."There is a norm established in society that caregiving is a role for women. Many think that taking care of the child is the wife's responsibility and taking care of the elders also should be handled by women," he said. "With elderly care also, we have already completed the planning of the programmes, and they will soon be executed," he added.He said that this move is being taken in collaboration with the Women and Child Affairs Ministry and the Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Ministry. International labour communities are also assisting in this process, he added.According to him, the International Labour Organisation has recently arranged a workshop in Sri Lanka, at their own cost, for countries in the region to share experiences in the wake of the progression that Sri Lanka is showcasing in promoting the care economy.Per the latest census data, women outnumber men in every District; yet, due to a lack of facilities and opportunities, their contribution to the labour force remains relatively low, with female labour force participation hovering at around 32 per cent.Source - The Morning
Why increasing female labour force participation is critical for Sri ...
By Cathrine Weerakkody Sri Lanka presents a familiar but increasingly costly paradox. The country has near-universal female literacy, strong educational outcomes for women, and better health indicators than many peers in South Asia. Yet only around 31–32 per cent of women participate in the labour force, far below global averages and well below what Sri Lanka’s human capital profile would predict. In the context of fiscal fragility, population ageing, and repeated climate-related shocks, this gap is no longer a social concern alone. It is a macroeconomic constraint. From a growth perspective, Sri Lanka can no longer afford to underutilise half of its potential workforce. Demographic ageing, sustained outward migration of skilled labour, and limited fiscal space mean that future growth will depend less on capital accumulation and more on labour supply and productivity. Raising female labour force participation would expand the effective workforce, lift household incomes, support domestic demand, and broaden the tax base. International evidence suggests that narrowing gender gaps in employment can generate sizeable and durable gains in output, particularly in middle-income economies facing demographic transition. For Sri Lanka, this is not an abstract benefit. It is central to stabilising public finances and sustaining recovery. The case is equally compelling at the household level. Rising living costs, income volatility, and accumulated debt have placed families under severe strain. These pressures are magnified by climate-related disasters. The recent cyclone displaced communities, disrupted livelihoods, and intensified unpaid care responsibilities, which continue to fall disproportionately on women. In this context, women’s economic participation is a key source of resilience. Dual-income households are better able to absorb shocks, recover from income losses, and sustain spending on education and health. Without broader female participation in paid work, climate shocks risk entrenching inequality rather than remaining temporary disruptions. The persistence of low participation is not explained by lack of education or capability. Instead, it reflects a set of structural constraints that have remained largely unaddressed. Rigid work arrangements, limited access to affordable childcare and eldercare, unsafe and unreliable transport, and weak pathways back into employment after career breaks act as binding constraints. Evidence across countries consiste...
Colombo hosts sub-regional learning hub on decent work and the care ...
Limited access to affordable and quality care services continues to restrict women's labour force participation and deepen gender inequalities. Recognizing these challenges, the ILO adopted the Resolution concerning Decent Work and the Care Economy.
Labor Force Participation Gaps in Sri Lanka, Gender Disparities, Youth ...
This study examines the evolution of Sri Lanka's labor market over the critical decade spanning 2014-2024, analyzing data from the Annual Labour Force Survey to identify structural transformations, persistent inequalities, and emerging challenges. Using a decade-long longitudinal analysis, the research investigates trends in labor force participation rates, unemployment patterns ...
