A new International Labour Organization (ILO) initiative has been launched in Sri Lanka to address social protection gaps and extend coverage to both formal and informal workers, including those in the care economy. Funded by the Government of Japan under the “Promoting and Building Social Protection in South Asia” programme, the Sri Lankan component was inaugurated in Colombo on 30 July 2025 in collaboration with government ministries, employers’ organizations, trade unions, development partners, and civil society representatives.
With funding of USD 1.6 million from Japan, the project aims to strengthen social protection floors and promote decent work by supporting the development and enhancement of unemployment, maternity, and pension schemes. The initiative adopts a gender-transformative approach, focusing on the needs of informal workers, care workers, and women, whose economic contributions are often overlooked.
The initiative has garnered strong support from ILO constituents in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Labour emphasized the need for coherent policies and institutional capacity, while the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon underscored the private sector’s role in driving inclusive growth. The Ceylon Workers’ Congress, representing workers, called for wider and fairer coverage, particularly for those in informal and vulnerable employment.
The project’s core focus is to expand social protection through new and improved schemes, ensure inclusion of excluded groups, and integrate gender equality into all aspects of design and implementation, ultimately aiming to create a more equitable and resilient social protection system in Sri Lanka.
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