01. Advancing Gender Equality: A Review of Sri Lankan Companies' Efforts

 

1.          Introduction

The ultimate objective of gender equality is to attain equal rights and privileges for men and women in terms of work opportunities, compensation, and treatment(Gunawardena, 2015). Companies in Sri Lanka are increasingly incorporating gender equality into their business culture and regular operations (International Finance Corporation, 2022). This report offers suggestions and the strategies that are being used along with the companies that are leading the standard of excellence.

2.          Current Situation

A recent report by the International Labour Organization, (2016)  draws attention to the pressing issue of Sri Lanka's high labour force participation rate (75%) for men and significantly lower rate (35%), which applies to women.

Companies and organizations in Sri Lanka  are working hard to change this, despite the glaring percentage disparity. For instance, the Women's International Foundation (WIF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) worked together in 2020 to provide gender equality training to Sri Lankan companies. By putting gender-sensitive policies and practices into place, the goal was to make these businesses more inclusive (United Nations Development Program, 2024).

Moreover, companies such as Hemas Holdings, listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, have publicly committed to gender equality. The company launched a campaign named " Diva Dathata Diriya ", aiming to empower women through entrepreneurship training. (Hemas Holdings PLC, 2023). The goal of this effort is to give their female employees a more favourable and equitable work environment.

Brandix, the top garment exporter in Sri Lanka, has a nearly 77% female workforce (Brandix, 2023). The organization has put into effect numerous strategies advocating for gender parity, encompassing diverse programs boosting women's autonomy, encouraging female empowerment, supporting women's liberation, fostering gender balance. (Brandix Apparel Limited, 2022; Daily Fit, 2024).

 

                                                        Source (Brandix, 2023)

 

MAS Holdings, another leading clothes exporter in Sri Lanka, established "Women Go Beyond" — an initiative aimed at enhancing the lives, employment, and personal growth of the women working with the firm (Mas Holdings, 2022) .

                                                         Source (MAS, 2024)

 

Another significant step toward securing gender equality is the implementation of the National Human Resource Development (NHRD) policy by the Sri Lankan government (National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka, 2023). The goal of this policy is to guarantee that gender equality is considered when making choices on human resources at all corporate and governmental levels.

3.          Further recommendation

While strides are being made towards gender equality in the workforce in Sri Lanka, the overall picture shows there is plenty of room for improvement. There is certainly momentum building, but awareness, commitment, and action are necessary across many more companies to change the overall trend in a comprehensive manner. Issues such as gender stereotypes, cultural biases, and the unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities continue to hinder progress. In businesses and leadership positions where men predominate, women are likewise notably underrepresented. For  there to be any kind of change, gender equity needs to be acknowledged as a driver of innovation and economic success as well as it is not just "social responsibility" or "voluntary disclose" of the financial statements.

By encouraging women in corporate leadership will enhance the diverse thinking, competitiveness with widespread changes potentially amplifying economic activity and sustainable development, practices like confronting cultural biases and discrimination, as well as implementing supportive legislation and workplace reform, can support Sri Lanka in attaining gender equality both in workplaces and boardrooms which already supported by recent scholars findings in varies regions (Ararat & Yurtog, 2020;Adams & Ferreira, 2009). 

 

4.          Reference

 Adams, R. & Ferreira, D., 2009. Women in the boardroom and their impact on governance and performance. Journal of Financial Economics, 94(2), pp. 291-309.

Ararat, M. & Yurtog, B., 2020. Female directors, board committees, and firm performance: Time-series evidence from Turkey. Emerging Markets Review, 48(1).

Brandix Apparel Limited, 2022. Sustainability Report, Colombo: Brandix Apparel Limited.

Brandix, 2023. Brandix. [Online]
Available at: https://brandix.com/2023/brandix-a-shining-star-for-women-s-empowerment
[Accessed 16 03 2024].

Daily Fit, 2024. Daily Fit. [Online]
Available at: https://www.ft.lk/business/Brandix-first-to-commit-to-UN-program-on-Gender-based-Violence-and-Women-in-Leadership/34-759500
[Accessed 16 03 2024].

Gunawardena, N., 2015. Women in Sri Lanka achievements and challenges. The College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, 1(4), p. 20.

Hemas Holdings PLC, 2023. Annual Report 2022/23, Colombo 2: Hemas Holdings PLC.

Hemas, 2023. Hemas. [Online]
Available at: https://hemas.com/news/diva-dathata-diriya-unlocks-the-power-of-female-entrepreneurs.html
[Accessed 16 03 2024].

International Finance Corporation, 2022. The Case for Gender Diversity Among Sri Lanka’s Business Leadership, Washington, DC: International Finance Corporation.

International Labour Organization, 2016. Factors Affecting Women's Labour Force Participation in Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Labour Office.

Mas Holdings, 2022. MAS Plan for Change | Impact Report, s.l.: Ma Holdings.

MAS, 2024. Women go beyond. [Online]
Available at: https://www.masholdings.com/plan-for-change/lives-changed-for-good/women-go-beyond/
[Accessed 16 3 2024].

National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka, 2023. National Human Resources Development Policy for Sri Lanka, s.l.: National Human Resources Development Council of Sri Lanka.

United Nations Development Program, 2024. UNDP Sri Lanka. [Online]
Available at: https://www.undp.org/srilanka/gender-equality
[Accessed 16 03 2024].

 





Comments

  1. Razi JalaldeenMarch 16, 2024 at 10:26 PM

    It seems good. Good job.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ruwini DissanayakeMarch 17, 2024 at 12:52 AM

    Thank you so much sir for your feedback

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laura PhilipMarch 17, 2024 at 3:30 AM

    This Blog post shares a good knowledge on Sri Lankan companies' efforts on Gender Equality.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gowri PereraMarch 17, 2024 at 6:59 AM

    Wow, This is a really nice article. Gender equality is becoming a more integral part of Sri Lankan businesses' everyday operations and corporate culture. Motivation of women in corporate leadership can lead to greater diversity of thinking, increased competitiveness, and potentially increased revenue and sustainable development, I supposed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amina MahmoodMarch 17, 2024 at 7:49 AM

    This article is really shows the effort that srilankan companies has taken to the Gender equality. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right,is accential to achieve peaceful communities or societies, with full human potancial and sustainable development.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shehan PriyashanthaMarch 17, 2024 at 8:03 AM

    Timely need of our country as well as many other countries as we talk more about women empowerment, this will assist reader to focus on what areas to be improved in women oriented work places and to increase percentage of women in other organisations as well since majority of Sri Lankan population is women as of today

    ReplyDelete
  7. Vindya EkanayakeMarch 17, 2024 at 8:56 AM

    Businesses must priorities gender equality as a strategic need in addition to a moral obligation. This article provides a thorough analysis of the efforts undertaken by Sri Lankan businesses to promote gender equality, highlighting both the achievements and the ongoing difficulties with examples. It's good to see businesses proactively promoting diversity and inclusion through the implementation of inclusive policies and the development of a positive workplace culture. Good Piece of work..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mohamed SalmanMarch 17, 2024 at 9:55 AM

    Great!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sachini HithakshikaMarch 17, 2024 at 10:52 AM

    Nice work!!. It's good to see that the Gender Equality advancing through the business industry and hope this strategy will be implementing all the dimensions, like social, cultural, and political as well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rusky AhamedMarch 17, 2024 at 11:34 AM

    Your blog beautifully articulates why Advancing Gender Equality is important. Keep it up

    ReplyDelete
  11. Laurena CottlingMarch 17, 2024 at 10:50 PM

    Seeing businesses like Hemas Holdings, Brandix, and MAS Holdings proactively empowering women in the workplace is incredibly encouraging. Fantastic work on your blog! I think You've offered insightful information about how Sri Lankan companies promote gender equality.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hansini BalasuriyaMarch 18, 2024 at 8:34 AM

    Very interesting and important topic. Thank you for sharing knowledge

    ReplyDelete
  13. LakshaniWMarch 18, 2024 at 9:02 AM

    In Sri Lanka, gender equality in the workplace aims to eliminate discrimination and provide equal opportunities and compensation for both men and women, providing welcoming environments where men and women can succeed in their professions. Very informative article to read.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dilshard Hameed March 18, 2024 at 9:22 AM

    Gender equality is a key point for the organisation which contributes more innovative solutions.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sakvithi SenadeeraMarch 18, 2024 at 9:30 PM

    The low rate of employment among Sri Lankan women indicates the extent of their forced labor. Leaving their jobs in order to prioritize taking care of the home. The poor gender diversity figures in public company boardrooms, where woman now hold 8% of board positions, also reflect this low engagement. This is true notwithstanding the government of Sri Lanka's efforts to advance gender equality in society and lessen the impact that social and cultural norms have on women.

    ReplyDelete
  16. KUMARA WELEGEMarch 19, 2024 at 8:24 AM

    This article is good sign of important to develop the gender equality any of societies or organizations.

    ReplyDelete
  17. VishakaMarch 20, 2024 at 9:18 AM

    A very successful attempt. You have presented a very important topic nowadays. A mother can manage a house well and she can also manage an organisation well. Today, more women are working in many organisations in Sri Lanka. Organisation productivity can be increased by promoting women's development through HRM activities.

    ReplyDelete
  18. N.M.N.P. NawarathnaMarch 20, 2024 at 10:32 PM

    This report provides valuable insights into the efforts of Sri Lankan companies to advance gender equality in the workplace. It highlights the importance of empowering women and creating inclusive environments for all employees.

    ReplyDelete
  19. sudarshiMarch 21, 2024 at 11:48 AM

    Nice article. Business in sri lanka are moving forward with promoting gender equality. They are establishing standards for cultivating diversity and strengthening women in the workforce with programs that support inclusively,equitable paya and leadership chances

    ReplyDelete
  20. SunethMarch 21, 2024 at 10:09 PM

    expect few organization / rest areas lot of high level position will be leading from Women's. but if we look at like Vietnam many of top level position are leading by Women's. its good sign. we can apply same strategy to SL organization that would be perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fathima ShazraMarch 22, 2024 at 9:03 AM

    Timely Article necessary for everyone as the women power is taking its lead comparatively higher that before..

    ReplyDelete
  22. Tharuka LiyanaarachchiMarch 23, 2024 at 6:54 AM

    This report highlights the commendable efforts of Sri Lankan companies in advancing gender equality, showcasing initiatives aimed at empowering women and fostering inclusive workplaces. It's inspiring to see organizations like Hemas Holdings, Brandix, and MAS Holdings leading the charge with concrete actions to promote gender parity and support female empowerment. However, it's crucial for more companies to join this movement and address underlying issues such as cultural biases and gender stereotypes to achieve comprehensive change and ensure equal opportunities for all genders in the workforce. Through collective commitment and action, Sri Lanka can further accelerate progress towards gender equality, driving innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Saranga ThilakaratneMarch 23, 2024 at 6:40 PM

    This article perfectly sums up how the labor force in Sri Lanka is striving for gender parity, with organizations such as Hemas Holdings, Brandix, and MAS Holdings demonstrating progress in this regard. It also addresses issues like cultural prejudice and gender stereotypes.
    Thank you for sharing this article, it provided valuable information.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Krishanthiny KrishnarajMarch 30, 2024 at 10:32 AM

    The statistics and reports you've included, such as the high labor force participation rate for men versus women, provide a clear understanding of the current situation. It's commendable how you back your points with credible sources like the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Development Program.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Gihan RanaweeraMarch 31, 2024 at 7:46 AM

    Really informative blog post! Your attention to detail in exploring the current situation of gender equality in Sri Lanka's corporate sector is commendable. The proactive strategies by diverse companies are inspiring and I agree with your recommendation that more needs to be done. Highlighting the role of gender equity as a catalyst for innovation and economic success could be a game-changer. Keep up the good work and thanks for your insightful contribution.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Gihan RanaweeraMarch 31, 2024 at 7:53 AM

    It's really enlightening to see the emphasis on how the people within an organisation can be a source of competitive advantage. The use of theoretical perspectives blended with strategic HR roles certainly provides a comprehensive look into HRM. The focus on change agents and the need for innovation in HR's approach are definitely key takeaways.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Chathuranga BasnayakeApril 2, 2024 at 2:09 AM

    Well done on delivering such a polished blog

    ReplyDelete
  28. Duke PrithivirajApril 13, 2024 at 8:50 PM

    Gender equity is more important nowadays to provide priory to women as wel .

    ReplyDelete
  29. Tharushi ElikewelaApril 14, 2024 at 6:25 AM

    Gender equality is main topic that all are wondering about in this post its very clearly explain how Sri Lankan main companies used it

    ReplyDelete
  30. Dhanushka PathiranaApril 14, 2024 at 10:25 PM

    I appreciate the detailed analysis provided in the post of the key initiatives and strategies adopted by Sri Lankan companies to promote gender equality, such as offering flexible work arrangements, providing career development and mentorship opportunities, and implementing policies to prevent and address harassment and discrimination.

    ReplyDelete
  31. PrabodhaApril 16, 2024 at 10:49 AM

    Advancing gender equality in Sri Lanka involves tackling cultural norms, discriminatory practices, and limited resources for women. Some companies have implemented policies like equal pay and parental leave to create inclusive work environments, but ongoing efforts are needed to challenge stereotypes and empower women across all sectors.

    ReplyDelete

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