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.
