Sri Lankan Female Domestic Workers in Middle East: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward

Abstract

The movement of women as domestic workers is a disputable issue in Sri Lanka. Every year, over a million women migrate for employment, the majority of these migrants are domestic workers. Sri Lanka is known as one of the largest labour exporting countries in South Asia at present and the majority of labour migrants are women who migrate as domestic workers to the Middle East. According to reports, recent interviews and statements given by women who have worked in the Middle East as domestic workers are struggling with many issues. The main objective of this research is, to identify the problems faced by Sri Lankan women housemaids in the Middle East. And also suggest appropriate policy recommendations. Specific objectives are to identify the factors that affect or those issues, to make aware people about the issues facing women domestic workers in the Middle East. Primary and secondary data will be used in this research. Primary data will be collected through interviews and questioner filled by the victims who have experience in this situation. Secondary data collected through academic journals, books and other web-based academic publications which have been published relevant to this study. The qualitative methodology will be used to analyze these data. This study will be limited to the Middle East because most of the Sri Lankan women are working in the Middle East. This research is timely significant to Sri Lanka because in the one hand this kind of situations is badly affected to the bilateral relationships with Middle East countries. Therefore, not only this research significant and valid but also timely