A chance to work

ON the record books, the number of Sri Lankan women seeking employment as migrant workers appear to be decreasing, but there are concerns increasing regulation is encouraging women to seek backdoor avenues to find jobs overseas. In addition, continued low numbers of women entering the formal workforce shows the quest for equality remains long.

A decline in women leaving for overseas employment, mainly to West Asia, has been seen in recent statistics. Central Bank figures show female migrant workers of all categories declined from 138,312 in 2012 to 118,033 in 2013 and 110,489 in 2014. There was also a sharp decrease of local housemaids to the Middle East. From 119,011 female domestics to this region in 2012, it dipped to 96,900 in 2013 and declined further to 88,661 in 2014. Meanwhile, male workers to West Asia increased from 175,185 in 2013 to 189,924 in 2014, particularly in the clerical, skilled and unskilled categories.

This was largely attributed to the increase in demand from Qatar, the report states. Officials maintained that the decline in female expatriate workers, mainly in the domestic category, was due to the mandatory requirements such as family background report to minimise the psychosocial cost of children being left behind without proper care.

However, despite these figures, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Nandapala Abeywickramasooriya believes female domestic workers to the Middle East remain high. This is because the official figures in the record are those who had registered with the authorities prior to leaving the country, but there is no mention of the thousands who depart through other channels.

Thousands of Lankan workers, a majority of them females, leave the country for work in the domestic sector, through clandestine channels, with the connivance of local recruiting agents, both registered and otherwise. In the past two weeks, 54 women were apprehended at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to leave the country on visit and tourist visas, according to Abeywickramasooriya.

Women seeking employment are also challenged by the lack of space in the formal sector. Despite high numbers of qualified women, especially at university level where an estimated 60% of graduates are female, entrance to the formal workforce remains understated. Currently, about 35% of Sri Lanka’s workforce comprises women, with the largest contribution coming from the agricultural sector.

Local employment opportunities for women are also stymied by weak regulations that do not provide flexible work hours and other perks such as paternity leave, which are standard in other countries. Large numbers of women who remain in the informal workforce also have limited chance to access bank accounts and other avenues of financial inclusivity.

Declining migrant workers, though positive, could also have an impact on remittances. While the current reduction is marginal, about 600,000 female migrant workers remain as the backbone of Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings. In theory sending out professionals could result in large returns but it would also increase brain drain. Moreover, professionals have the option of migrating with their families, thus reducing the impetus for sending money home.

Improving employment opportunities for women at home is an enduring challenge. Social, legal and corporate attitudes need to change, and change fast, for women to have the space to make critical contributions to the country’s growth, along with their own wellbeing.