The research report on the gender pay gap in Sri Lanka was presented to Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and Leader of the Opposition MP Sajith Premadasa recently (Aug 08).
According to a Parliament statement, the report was prepared by a group of researchers including the Women and Media Collective under the leadership of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus.
Receiving the report from the Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said it was important to formulate legislation and new policies to change these wage inequalities.
Furthermore, Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa stated that provisions should be included in the constitution so that these rights can be upheld.
The Caucus Chair pointed out that in order to eliminate this gender wage disparity, there should also be a change in the attitudes among the people in the society.
Commenting on this research report, the research team led by Dr Sepali Kottegoda, Executive Director of the Women and Media Collective stated that the gender pay gap in the Sri Lankan labour market is primarily and closely linked to unpaid care services.
The researchers highlighted that women are under-represented in high-wage industries, concentrated in low-paid service roles, and a significant proportion of women are engaged in part-time work and unpaid domestic care services.
Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, Women and Media Collective, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Democratic Institute (NDI) other invitees were present at this event. Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, MP Harsha de Silva, MP & Co-Deputy Chair of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, and MP Eran Wickramaratne were also present at this event. (Newswire)