📈 Sri Lanka’s Falling Female Labour Participation Highlighted in Care Economy Call

• Labour Participation Deficit: Female labour force participation in Sri Lanka dropped from over 45% in 1990 to ~30% today, reversing decades of economic progress. • Unpaid Care Burden: Department of Census and Statistics data shows 56% of non-participating women cite domestic/care responsibilities (vs. 5% of men). Women carry 86% of all unpaid care work in Sri Lanka, spending 4 extra hours daily on domestic tasks and 1 extra hour on direct care compared to men. • Corporate Sector Impact: Support infrastructure directly improves performance. Workplace interventions by major employers in apparel & textiles, such as MAS Holdings, showed that introducing crèche facilities reduced factory floor absenteeism by ~9%. • Systemic & Cultural Barriers: Infrastructure like daycares and backup care eases immediate pressure, but societal expectations and stigma around institutional care continue to limit women's career trajectories, promotions, and economic independence. • Policy & Action Needed: Aligning with ILO’s 2024 Decent Work and Care Economy framework, experts advocate for a structured care economy—combining public infrastructure, corporate care policies, and flexible arrangements for both men and women.