AIA Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces for women for five consecutive years (2018-2022) has dedicated the month of March to celebrate diversity across all strata of women, to reflect on progress made and to call for greater gender equality and inclusivity, not just in the company, but across the country. As usual, AIA celebrates International Women’s Day not just on the 08th of March, but rather an entire month dedicated to recognize, honour and appreciate the role of the woman with a series of carefully curated line of events that are fun, inspirational and educational.

Last year, AIA together with IFC – under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work programme – launched ‘ඇය සුරකින AIA’ – a women’s programme that empowers women across the island and the Company will continue its endeavour to support women to be courageous, confident, to feel valued and appreciated, while ensuring to protect her and provide her with financial security.

Women everywhere want and deserve a future with equal rights and opportunities for all, free from stigma and stereotypes. At AIA Insurance, this is a serious mission. AIA provides numerous benefits for women employees and agents and continues to promote a culture of meritocracy with the aim of providing all employees fair and equal opportunities to bring out the best in them and support them to achieve their career aspirations.

AIA has taken many sustained efforts in this regard and ensured that the Company’s women employees are groomed and encouraged to take up senior leadership roles through a carefully curated unbiased career development process. As a result, today, 41% of AIA’s employees are women, 48% of the sales force are women and 52% among the top 100 high performers. 26% of AIA’s senior management are women with the Company’s women in insurance special roles including 69% in operations and 50% in actuarial. So, there is no limit to their potential.

While a gender inclusive work environment is encouraged, it is noteworthy that at AIA, International Men’s Day is also celebrated each year, to appreciate the strength men bring to all of us. The Company also revamped the ‘New Parents Support Scheme’ where both fathers and mothers can benefit from.

The Company’s commitment goes beyond their employees and extends to their customers, female entrepreneurs and the community as well. AIA is the only Company in Sri Lanka that has conducted a market study on the needs, preferences, and challenges of Sri Lankan women, in collaboration with IFC, to develop a holistic women-centric business strategy. Through the ‘ඇය සුරකින AIA’ platform, AIA hopes to further launch many initiatives for women including employees, agents, customers and community at large. AIA also recently partnered the Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) to promote women entrepreneurship across the nation. Further, AIA’s She Protect a first-of-its-kind protection plan provides a higher protection cover to one of the most important customer segments in our market: women. ‘She Protect’ offers a range of optional benefits for women customers to personalise the protection they need based on their lifestyle and desires, for affordable premiums.

AIA is happy to celebrate the progress on diversity, equality and inclusivity, made thus far while not forgetting to keep working towards enabling respect, safety and opportunity for women not only at work but across the country.