Sri Lanka fisherwomen call for pro-women national policies

NAFSO’s Fisher Women Federation gives the minister of Women and Child Affairs documents and a petition signed by 10,000 people. The Federation wants the government to adopt policies that are women- and girl-friendly. Its focus is the gender wage gap, workplace exploitation, and emigration.

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Sri Lanka’s Fisher Women Federation met with Chandrani Bandara, minister of Women and Child Affairs, at the Mahaweli Centre in Colombo, on Tuesday, as part of a meeting titled 'Let us contribute to establish a Women's Policy'. Some 200 women from 13 districts took part in the event.

The Federation is part of the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO). It presented proposals and documents to the government’s representative on how to improve the status of women living in the north and east of the country.

It also presented a petition signed by 10,000, which was launched to raise awareness about the problems Sri Lankan women face in the workplace, like unequal treatment, abuse, and economic hardships.

Wage disparity is one of the main complaints. Compared to men, women earn less for the same work. "This is really unfair,” said NAFSO Women’s Desk chief Laveena Hasanthi.

Speaking to AsiaNews, she noted that “Women head of households live on what they earn. But too often, that is not enough in the absence of a husband and father to meet their needs and those of their children."

Women represent 52 per cent of the Sri Lankan population (20 million), but suffer discrimination in various sectors like fishing, commerce, or housing.

“Women from humble backgrounds need national policies to protect them and their families and ensure them a decent life,” said an activist from Jaffna.

"Sometimes, after a day of hard work, women return home empty-handed,” Laveena Hasanthi said. “When a country does not have adequate policies, women face huge difficulties in the workplace, like discrimination, as well as economic, social, and political exploitation."

Minister Bandara welcomed the documents and the petition, saying that the "government will take the proposals into serious consideration."

She also noted that the Sri Lankan parliament has already approved a bill designed to boost women participation in politics and committed itself to solve the issue of women migrant workers.

"Too many women are going abroad in search of work,” the minister lamented. “We plan to provide jobs locally to reduce the number of expatriates."

• sri lanka
• women
• fisher women
• work place
• wages