Developing a Roadmap and a National Action Plan for Social Care in Sri Lanka
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Developing a Roadmap and a National Action Plan for Social Care in Sri Lanka
I-2 Geographical coverage
LKA
I-2-A Region/country
Sri Lanka
I-2-R Region
Asia and the Pacific
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2025
I-3-B Initiative end date
2026
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Private enterprise
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Civil society, including NGOs
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-6-A Specify how the ILO was involved
The ILO is working in close partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka to develop a Roadmap and National Action Plan on Social Care. Following the Cabinet’s approval of the National Social Protection Strategy in September 2025—which includes a dedicated Pillar 2 on social care—the ILO has taken on the role of lead technical partner. In this capacity, it provides strategic guidance and technical expertise to support both the design and the implementation of this pillar.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
No
II-1 Justification of the initiative
Care needs in Sri Lanka are evolving rapidly in scale, composition, and urgency, driven by demographic shifts, changing family structures, and increasing demand for both childcare and eldercare services. These trends are unfolding in a context of constrained public resources, uneven availability of services across regions, and a continued reliance on unpaid care within households.Care work remains predominantly unpaid and is largely carried out by women, leading to a highly unequal distribution of time, limited participation of women in the labour force, and reduced access to income-generating opportunities. This not only reinforces gender inequalities but also limits overall economic productivity and social inclusion.These challenges highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive and coordinated response. The development of a Roadmap and National Action Plan on Social Care is therefore critical to guide policy, strengthen service provision, support the formalization of care work, and promote a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities across society.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
No sectoral focus
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Not applicable
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employees
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employers
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Own-account workers
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Contributing family workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Domestic workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Community health and care workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Primary and secondary school teachers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Personal care and/or assistance workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Nurses
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Social workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Long-term care / geriatric care workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Workers in the informal economy
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Employers of care workers
II-13-A Specification
null
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
People with disabilities
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Older persons
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Children
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, through social dialogue
II-15 Has the initiative been developed through effective social dialogue processes and inter-institutional coordination mechanisms?
Yes, inter-institutional coordination mechanisms
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
Sri Lanka’s National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) provides a 10‑year national roadmap to build a comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable social protection system, structured around four core pillars:Social AssistanceSocial CareSocial InsuranceLabour Market and Productive InclusionFollowing Cabinet approval of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) in September 2025, the Government—working with the ILO—formally launched the process to develop a Roadmap and National Action Plan on Social Care (based on Pillar 2) on 29 October 2025, marking the International Day of Care and Support.The development process is led by an Inter‑Ministerial Social Care Working Group, co‑chaired by:the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs,the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, andthe Ministry of Labour,and with participation from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Education, Foreign Employment, and Public Administration, among others.The National Action Plan was validated in March 2026 and is expected to be completed and launched in 2026.
II-3 Type of initiative
Plan / roadmap
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Reward care workers
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Representation of care workers
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Social Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Employment policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Skills policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Labour Protection policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Migration policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Design and implement integrated and coherent care policies and systems for decent work and gender equality
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Mainstream care into relevant public policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promote employment and macroeconomic policies that create decent jobs in the care economy
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Formalization of informal care jobs and enterprises
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting active labour market policies, education and training, upskilling and re-skilling, skills recognition and skills certification
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid work, and promoting women’s economic inclusion and autonomy beyond caregiving
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Comprehensive maternity protection and care leave and protection policies, including paternity, parental leave and long-term care leave
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Create an enabling and conducive environment for sustainable enterprises and SSE entities
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Invest in and make available high-quality, affordable, adequate and accessible care services, including childcare, health care and long-term care
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Enhancing the availability of assistance and support services for persons with disabilities to promote individual autonomy and independence
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Preventing and addressing all forms of discrimination against care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Ensuring effective access to labour protection and social security, including through labour inspection, for all care workers
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Policies and strategies on working time, wages, and occupational safety and health, including preventing and addressing violence and harassment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and SSE entities that deliver quality care services
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Collecting and disseminating data on unpaid and paid care work
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Promoting the voice and representation of, and consulting with, care worker organizations, organizations of employers of care workers and unpaid family carers
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Care recipients (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban and rural
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
The primary result achieved was the development and adoption of Sri Lanka’s first comprehensive National Action Plan on Social Care (Based on Pillar 2 of the National Social Protection Strategy), covering a ten‑year period up to 2035. The Action Plan on Social Care establishes a unified policy framework anchored in inter‑ministerial collaboration, with the three core ministries jointly leading its design and implementation. It puts in place clear top‑to‑bottom coordination mechanisms, ensuring alignment and accountability across central government, provincial administrations, and local authorities. Importantly, the process institutionalized structured spaces for stakeholder engagement, enabling meaningful participation of trade unions, the private sector, civil society organizations, and academia. As a result, the Action Plan reflects a whole‑of‑government and whole‑of‑society approach to care, strengthening policy coherence, ownership, and long‑term sustainability.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
The design and implementation process was shaped by the need to align the National Action Plan on Social Care with Pillar 2 of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS), which defines the scope for social care. As a result, the range of activities included in the Action Plan was guided by this existing framework, with an emphasis on avoiding duplication of efforts.To address this, the process focused on ensuring strong policy coherence with the NSPS while making full use of the available scope. Efforts were also made to incorporate elements that contribute to longer-term system strengthening within the parameters of the established framework.
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
Sri Lanka National Social Protection StrategySri Lanka’s Inter-Ministerial Social Care Working group Embarks on Developing a Roadmap and a National Action Plan with ILO’s Technical Support
V-2 Contact information of ILO focal point
Marian Fernando, National Project Coordinator, ILO Care Project ([email protected])