Findings and Recommended Good Practices for Five Private Sector Industries
Jennifer L. Solotaroff, George Gheverghese Joseph, Jayati Sethi, Anne T. Kuriakose · 2020
Focuses on five private sector industries in Sri Lanka regarded as a mix of emerging and traditional drivers of the economy: information and communication technology (ICT), tea estates, tourism, the garment sector, and commercial agriculture. Key informant interviews reveal some of the obstacles to women’s employment in the tourism sector: poor English speaking and listening skills, as well as an underdeveloped understanding of the wide variety of careers and opportunities available across the industry. Primary among the constraints identified is the perceived—and real—vulnerability of tourism to potential labor abuses and criminal activity, including the sexual abuse and trafficking of women and children. Some recommended intervention areas to increase women’s involvement in these industries include proactive involvement of educational and vocational training institutions; Internet access; role models; career counseling; internships; transparent hiring criteria; focus on safety and transportation; recognizing concerns; reducing discrimination against married and older female workers; and improving workplace conditions.