Rising migration of Lankan women reshapes caregiving and employment dynamics

By Rathindra Kuruwita

There has been a two-percent increase in the number Sri Lankan women seeking foreign employment, compared to 2023, according to Dr. Bilesha Weeraratne, Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). The number rose to 46% in 2023 from about 40% in the pre-pandemic period. Dr. Weeraratne shared these insights on Thursday (15) during a policy dialogue, titled “Shaping the Future: Population Dynamics in Sri Lanka,” organized by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka.

Dr. Weeraratne said the Sri Lankan government has been actively promoting foreign employment since 2022, as a response to the economic crisis. In 2022, over 300,000 people left the country for work abroad, with a similar figure of approximately 297,000 in 2023.

“Most of the women leaving the country are under 45 years old, which is one of the contributing factors to the decline in fertility rates,” Dr. Weeraratne noted.

The large-scale migration of young women has also necessitated a restructuring of caregiving responsibilities within the country. “Now, older women are often tasked with caring for young children, which can be challenging. Childcare is demanding even for mothers, and the expectation that older aunts and grandmothers will take over can lead to compromises in the education and nutrition of children. However, remittances from abroad can also provide families with better access to food and education,” she explained.

Dr. Weeraratne further emphasized that migration serves as an entry point to employment for many women, particularly given Sri Lanka’s low female labour force participation.

“One solution to this issue is to establish quality daycare facilities for both children and the elderly. In Sri Lanka, placing the elderly in homes is not common practice, and women often bear the primary responsibility for their care. If adult daycare centres were available, more women would be able to enter the workforce,” she suggested.

Additionally, she pointed out that many women migrate to escape domestic violence, challenging the assumption that children left behind by migrant mothers are more vulnerable to violence at home.

Dr. Weeraratne also addressed the issue of high youth unemployment in Sri Lanka, attributing it largely to a mismatch between skills and job market demands. “Many young people aspire to work abroad. By providing them with the necessary training for jobs in the healthcare and hospitality sectors, we can prepare them for employment overseas. Those who migrate will send back remittances, while those who remain will possess skills that are attractive to investors,” she concluded.