By Nuzla Rizkiya

Sri Lanka must urgently address the discriminatory maternity leave policies that distort the country’s labour market, a senior economist asserted. 

The current system, which requires the companies to provide maternity leave and pay salaries during the period of absence of the female employees, unfairly burdens the firms while leading to active discrimination, especially against the women of the childbearing age, Verité Research Research Director Subhashini Abeysinghe pointed out.

“What is sad is that the lack of women in the labour force. Women being discriminated against is a problem that has already been identified. To be honest, I think we should recognise and appreciate maternity leave even more today, because all over the world, we are talking about the rapid decline in population,” Abeysinghe said while addressing a Verite Research seminar on inclusive growth.

She explained that the countries all over the world have now begun to recognise the challenge posed by the declining birth rates, with more than 100 governments stepping up to pay the full or partial cost of maternity leave. This is to ensure that the businesses do not bear the full burden.

Sri Lanka too is no exception, with its decreasing child population and the rapid increase in its aging population, for which the care burden is likely to fall on women. 

“It’s vital that we begin to acknowledge maternity leave as a social benefit. This is a social cost that should be borne by society,” she emphasised.

Moreover, Sri Lanka is a signatory to the global Maternity Protection Convention, which does not mandate that maternity leave should be borne solely by the companies. Instead, it emphasises that the maternity leave benefits should be provided through a social security system. In cases where the employer is directly responsible for payment, the state should ensure that the employer’s obligations are met. 

“I think it’s important for us to address this urgently because it is an important step in the right direction. We also have a serious problem with women in the labour force, so addressing this will also help Sri Lanka economically,” Abeysinghe asserted.