Gender income gap widens in Sri Lanka
November 4th, 2011 - 3:26 pm ICT by IANSColombo, Nov 4 (IANS) The Sri Lankan government should ensure better pay for women, rights activists said here Friday after Sri Lanka dropped 15 spots in the latest World Economic Rankings.
Sri Lanka’s gender gap has increased over the last year and gender equality ranking declined from 16th in 2010 to 31st this year, according to a report released by the World Economic Forum.
The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2011 showed that Sri Lanka has slipped several places from its privileged position in the top 20 over the last five years.
The report noted that while Sri Lanka shows a higher-than-average performance in health and political empowerment, the gap between women’s and men’s estimated earned income widened.
“Most women are employed in the informal sector, which pays lesser salaries. In addition there are no policies by the government directed at ensuring equal pay for women,” said Women and Media Collective Director Kumi Samuels.
“Three decades of war has also resulted in many women heading households and earnings lesser in the low income bracket,” Samuels told Xinhua in a telephone interview.
The conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ended in May 2009, leaving thousands dead.
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Tags: activists, equal pay, gap, gap report, gender equality, gender gap, households, income bracket, income gap, informal sector, liberation tigers of tamil eelam, privileged position, samuels, sri lanka colombo, sri lankan government, telephone interview, three decades, women rights, world economic forum, xinhua