Up to 374,000 workers risk losing US$ 48 million monthly after Cyclone Ditwah – ILO

• Agriculture and fisheries sectors were among the worst affected  
• ILO calls for urgent livelihood restoration measures, including emergency cash assistance and the rapid rollout of employment-intensive recovery programmes 

Up to 374,000 workers in Sri Lanka face potential income losses amounting to nearly US$ 48 million per month following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, according to a new brief released by the International Labour Organization (ILO).  

The cyclone, which made landfall on 26 November, triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides across large parts of the island. While severe floods inundated Northern and Eastern districts, landslides hit central hill-country areas, including major tea-growing regions, placing thousands of livelihoods at risk.   

Using an innovative methodology that combines remote sensing data, including flood extent, agricultural land damage, population exposure and nightlight activity, with labour force survey data, the ILO has produced a rapid assessment of the disaster’s labour market impact. The brief provides one of the first estimates of how the cyclone could affect workers’ ability to earn a living, offering critical guidance for emergency response and recovery planning.  The analysis shows that the agriculture and fisheries sectors were among the worst affected. Floodwaters damaged up to 23 per cent of rice-cultivating land, while preliminary estimates suggest tea production losses could reach 35 per cent. Smallholder tea farmers, who contribute around 70 per cent of national tea output, have been disproportionately impacted.   

In response, the ILO is calling for urgent livelihood restoration measures, including emergency cash assistance and the rapid rollout of employment-intensive recovery programmes that guarantee decent working conditions. The brief also stresses the need for targeted sectoral support and assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to quickly restore production capacity.    The ILO urges Sri Lanka to integrate lessons from Cyclone Ditwah into medium-term recovery strategies, strengthening coordination between wage protection, social protection, employment policies and disaster risk management systems to better safeguard workers against future climate-related shocks.