Returned Female Migrant Workers: Challenges Towards Reintegration

Abstract

In Sri Lanka, labour migration is the second largest source of foreign remittance. Among the migrant labour participants, females mostly represent the low-skilled employer category, namely domestic workers and caregivers. Gulf countries are the main destination for these domestic workers. Previous studies have shown the socio-economic issues that those females are facing. In the National Labour Migration Policy implemented in 2008 highlighted in its policy to empower and reintegrate the returnee migrants. This study questions whether the policy objective has reached its goals and what are the limitations to reach the policy objectives. To reach this question, the study aims to analyse how far the female returnees are economically secure in their future. Primary data were collected through 20 returnee female migrants selected purposively, and in-depth interviews were conducted with those females. This study also used the Ministry of External Affairs and related corporate records as secondary data sources. This qualitative study revealed that, unlike male returnees, the majority of females are not engaged in any other work after returning home, though they are still able to work. Female migrants were mostly from the low-skilled job category, and their experience may not help them to establish any small-scale business. Neither has the government taken any special programmes under the reintegration policy to help these returnees, too. The future of these women is insecure due to not having a good amount of savings. Dependency of their family members is more prevalent among female returnee migrants. The findings of the study concluded that a lack of savings or zero capital becomes a major barrier for them to establish their own small-scale business. These unsuccessful cases captured the problems of reintegration, and the aim of the National Migration Policy on the reintegration of returnee migrants has not succeeded.