Study on improving the pandemic policy responses to reduce adverse health effects on women workers in the export sector of Sri Lanka

The apparel sector employs 11.8% of all female workers in Sri Lanka. Industries have profit objectives, but profit is a function of workers’ ability to work. Still, continuing work can make them vulnerable to the pandemic. This presentation seeks to understand how the industries coped with the dual objectives of profit and keeping the workforce out of COVID, what happened to women in this process, and what more can be done.

The apparel industry is very important to Sri Lanka’s economy and is a major employer of female workers. This presentation discusses the industry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The response focused on minimising the loss of human life while maintaining as production as much as possible. This presentation highlights its impact on the workers, who were some of the most vulnerable to the social, health, nutritional and income impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis has surfaced critical issues with global health crisis management policies, particularly in terms of inclusivity and equity. As the risks of contagious disease outbreaks increase in tropical regions, the need for more effective pandemic response policies is essential for economic stability and sustainable development. This study aims to provide an understanding of the challenges faced by women workers in the Sri Lankan apparel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the necessity for improved pandemic response policies.