Care drain, changes in gender roles within migrant families and care deficit in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The demand for care givers has increased internationally, especially in the developed countries, due to the increasing numbers of women entering the labour market, advancement in social status of women, economic development of families, and unwillingness of local women to engage in 3-D jobs and government policies that encourage immigration. Responding to this demand, the number of women migrating to countries in many parts of the world as care workers has increased dramatically over the past few decades and Sri Lanka has also become one of the major suppliers of caregivers among Asian countries. Women in Sri Lanka are perceived as primary care givers for their children, the aged and the sick persons in their households. With the increasing demand for care work from rich countries and due to the economic hardships, Sri Lankan women with low socio-economic conditions are compelled to leave their children, the aged and the sick in the care of the other family members and move internationally to care of the children of other mothers, and the aged and the sick people of other families for pay.