US$48m monthly income losses of workers put 16% of GDP at risk: ILO

Colombo, Dec. 23 (Daily Mirror) - Up to 374,000 workers in Sri Lanka have been affected by floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with potential income losses estimated at US$48 million per month, according to a new brief by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

According to the brief, the most severe flooding occurred in the Northern and Eastern districts, while landslides particularly affected central areas, where a significant number of tea plantations are located.

The ILO said the brief combined remote sensing data on flood extent, population, agriculture and nightlight with labour force survey data to provide a preliminary snapshot of conditions in the affected areas. This innovative approach offers timely insights into the potential impact on livelihoods and is intended to guide emergency response efforts as well as medium-term support to help workers re-enter the labour market.

The agriculture and fisheries sectors were among the hardest hit. The brief estimates that up to 23 per cent of rice-cultivating land has been affected by flooding, while preliminary output losses in the tea industry could reach as high as 35 per cent. Smallholder tea farmers, who account for about 70 per cent of the sector’s output, have been disproportionately affected.

In light of the severe conditions, the ILO brief calls for immediate measures to support the restoration of livelihoods. It recommends prioritising emergency cash assistance and the widespread rollout of employment-intensive recovery programmes that ensure decent working conditions in the short term.

These efforts should be combined with targeted sectoral support and assistance to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to rapidly restore means of production. The brief stresses that such programmes must prioritise the most vulnerable groups, be conflict-sensitive, work through workers’ and employers’ organisations, and directly engage community stakeholders.

For the medium term, the ILO said recovery efforts should incorporate lessons from the disaster to improve coverage, adequacy and coordination across wage protection, social protection, employment policies and disaster risk management frameworks.