The International Labour Organization (ILO)-organized South-4-Care Learning Hub in Colombo brought together countries across South Asia for a four-day knowledge exchange focused on advancing decent work in the care economy. Held from 21–24 April 2026 in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the International Training Centre of the ILO, the initiative served as a regional platform for South-South and Triangular Cooperation aimed at building more gender-responsive and resilient economies.
Discussions at the event emphasized that meaningful progress in the care economy can be achieved when governments, employers, and workers collaborate through coherent policies and strong social dialogue. Speakers highlighted that care work, whether paid or unpaid, is central to economic functioning and social wellbeing, as it supports labour market participation, family care, and broader productivity.
In her inaugural address, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stressed that the care economy is no longer a marginal issue but a core component of how societies and economies operate. She underlined that labour force participation is closely linked to access to opportunity, dignity, and inclusion, and called for recognition of all forms of work to ensure they are visible, valued, and adequately protected.
Participants noted that care systems in South Asia require stronger coordination, increased public investment, and more coherent policy frameworks to respond to growing care needs. A key focus of discussions was improving working conditions for care workers while expanding access to affordable and quality care services, which remain uneven across the region.
The role of social dialogue was highlighted as essential, with governments, employers’ organisations, trade unions, private sector actors, and experts all contributing to shaping effective care policies. Several countries shared practical experiences showing how partnerships and coordinated action can help turn policy commitments into real improvements on the ground.
The event also drew attention to persistent challenges, including the undervaluation of care work and its unequal distribution, with women continuing to bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care responsibilities. Limited access to affordable care services was identified as a major barrier to women’s labour force participation and a driver of gender inequality in the region.
The ILO’s Resolution on Decent Work and the Care Economy was highlighted as a guiding framework, recognising care as essential labour market infrastructure and calling for rights-based, gender-responsive approaches supported by international labour standards, social dialogue, and public investment.
Overall, the Learning Hub aimed to translate global commitments into practical national action by strengthening regional collaboration and supporting the development of care systems that benefit workers, employers, and societies across South Asia.
