A Survey on Female Migrant Domestic Workers of Sri Lanka: The Short-term Economic Benefits and the Long-term Social and Economic Costs

Abstract

The labour export industry has become one of the biggest contributors to the foreign income coffers of Sri Lanka, in addition to it being a significant means of reducing the unemployment rate. This article examines the social and economic impact of the Labour export policy, with special reference to female workers. Both the macro and micro level impacts are assessed. The migrants’ background and profiles were studied to estimate the effect on the individual households and families of the migrants. The survey sample was a group of female migrants from the Hambantota district. The author concludes that at the macro level, a positive contribution to the national development of the country is seen. In the short term it will have a significantly effect in alleviating poverty of the migrant and the household. However, such migration was shown to cause severe social problems both to the migrant, household and consequently, society. Thus the labour export policy need to be looked into further in order to avoid long term social and economic costs to the country.