Selling humanity

THE attempt by an Arab sponsor to sell a Sri Lankan domestic worker for money through a paper advertisement has caused much consternation and returned the spotlight to the plight of women who are the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s economy.

On the record books, the number of Sri Lankan women seeking employment as migrant workers appears to be decreasing, but there are concerns that increasing regulation is encouraging women to seek backdoor avenues to find jobs overseas. In addition, continued low numbers of women entering the formal workforce show 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.

Broadly speaking, this can be seen as positive but authorities admit dozens of women are being trafficked around the Gulf as they have dropped off the formal system. Many of them have been forced to flee their original workplaces and sponsors, often leaving behind their passports and other travel documents, leaving them vulnerable to traffickers. Without a well-funded and competent official presence in the Middle East many of these women will continue to be bought and sold like pieces of meat.  

Women seeking employment are also challenged by the lack of space in the formal sector. Despite high numbers of qualified women, especially at the 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. The large numbers of women who remain in the informal workforce also have limited chances 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 the brain drain, especially since 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.

This is also an issue that has to be speedily dealt with by the next Government. Both sides have promised to create more local jobs but these also have to be targeted at ending the inequality that leads to inhumanity.