Digital platforms and women’s work in Sri Lanka and India
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Resumen
There has been a rapid increase in the number of digital work options available to women. While some options are almost exclusively used by men, others, such as craft and creative marketplaces like Etsy, are dominated by women.Más información
There has been a rapid increase in the number of digital work options available to women. While some options are almost exclusively used by men, others, such as craft and creative marketplaces like Etsy, are dominated by women. Across these options, there are a variety of practices demanding different trade-offs between time and money from workers, leading to an emerging ecosystem of digital work. At the same time, the characteristics of working age women have become more heterogeneous in terms of skill, education, conditions for labour force participation, and engagements with digital platforms.
This project will assess the ecosystem within which women are engaging with digital work and how online platforms can contribute to women’s economic empowerment. The findings will inform updated labour market regulation and business practices.
With a focus on India and Sri Lanka, the project will explore a number of key questions, including how women leverage digital platforms to improve their livelihoods or to socially empower themselves; whether apps are being designed to attract women (as users or providers); and how women view digital opportunities. It will create a common understanding of the ecosystem across business, policy, and civil society by consulting with digital platforms, civil society, and policymakers. The evidence is expected to lead to better business practices, improved public policy and civil society responses, and an ecosystem that is more inclusive for women.
Publicaciones
Resultados de la investigación Opens in new tab
This paper explores the gender gaps in digital access and the underlying reasons for those gaps in the global South. It shows that over time some progress in closing those gaps in certain parts of South Asia, however it then goes on to argue that getting women simply connected is not the end goal. By examining the cases of India and Sri Lanka, the paper then identifies two key barriers to women’s meaningful access, specifically knowledge/awareness and digital skills barriers. The evidence shows that in these countries, the levels of digital skills and awareness of digital opportunities (such as online freelancing, using platforms to sell goods/services) are particularly low. The paper argues that in order to be digitally empowered, women need to firstly be aware of the possibilities of being online and have the necessary skills to enrich that experience.
Samurdhi banks in Sri Lanka have been used exclusively as distribution points for the monthly cash transfers. Senior citizens’ allowances, PWD benefits, and kidney patients’ allowances were disbursed via post offices, State banks and divisional secretariats, respectively. There is a distinct lack of cohesion in the delivery mechanisms, a symptom of a broader issue – a fragmented social welfare system. So, streamlining delivery through a single channel looks like a good decision. While efforts to streamline delivery are commendable, giving a monopoly to Samurdhi banks is not the solution.
This presentation provides information on the need for social safety net reform in Sri Lanka. Several events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, fertilizer bans, and fuels shortages have thrown millions into poverty. The efficacy of various poverty reduction programmes is examined.