SL needs ILO, World Bank support to measure care work to sustain economy- PM

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya PIC BY PRADEEP PATHIRANA

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana  

Sri Lanka needs to bring care work into the discussions on budget and making its fiscal policies, as unpaid care work by the female workforce would largely contribute to sustain the economy, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said. 

She said the country needs the support of organisations like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and World Bank in measuring the unpaid care work, in order to bring that into discussion on the economy. 

Dr. Amarasuriya made these observations while addressing the regional dialogue South-4-Care Learning Hub: South Asia Edition, which was held at ITC Ratnadipa Colombo on Tuesday.  

The four-day regional dialogue, held from April 21-24, convened by the ILO, will carry the theme ‘Advancing Decent Work in the Care Economy in South Asia’. 

The regional platform brought together representatives from governments, employers and workers, to discuss the future of the care economy and its role in driving inclusive growth, gender equality and decent work.  

Saying that Sri Lanka is very happy to host this kind of programme in the region, Dr. Amarasuriya remarked that care work is important in any country, whether it is child or elderly care or be it domestic or community care.  

“Unpaid care work performed by women will sustain a community, which will ultimately sustain an economy. The unpaid care work by women should be recognised to sustain an economy. Thus, we need to consider unpaid care work as productive as paid work,” she said.  

“We need to start valuing our unpaid care workers and I look to organisations like the ILO and World Bank Group for its technical support to measure this,” Dr. Amarasuriya further said.  

The inaugural event was also addressed by ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, World Bank Group South Asia Regional Director for Human Development Cem Mete, with their opening remarks. 

Also, ILO Director Country Office for Sri Lanka and Maldives Jani Simpson and World Bank Group Senior Operations Specialist and Acting Country Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Asela Dissanayake spoke at the forum.  

Labour Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando and Labour Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe were also present among many other dignitaries.