Advocating for Sri Lankan Migrant Workers: Obstacles and Challenges

Abstract

Although the remittances of Sri Lankan female migrant workers make a significant contribution to the national economy, support provided to the female workers by either government or non governmental organizations is woefully inadequate, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in West Asia. The author conceptualizes Sri Lankan migration within larger or global economic dynamics and local ideological formations, and argues that political freedom in the host countries significantly affect the organizing activities in both the host and donor countries. A comparison is made of the Sri Lankan and Philippines situations where vigorous activism in the Philippines is reflected in the liberal organizing climates in the EFU and East and SE Asia, in contrast to Sri Lanka, where, although the country has an active labour presence and political participation, there is a lack of organizational activity, which in turn is seen in the oppressive treatment of migrant workers in the GCC. These countries are not tolerant of any labour activities or protests, particularly in the case of women workers.