Left Behind, Left Out

The Impact on Children and Families of Mothers Migrating for Work Abroad is a research study that recognizes the potential impact on children of the absence of around 600,000 Sri Lankan women abroad, a majority of them married with children. The study investigates the phenomenon of large scale female migration and its implications for children's right to a secure family environment, to a quality education, to sound development and right to contact with mothers.

Children and families left behind by migrant women are "Left Out" by an entire system that has yet to adequately and fully recognize and appreciate the considerable contribution to national income made by these women. Structures and mechanisms to verse the emotional, psychological, and social impact on children and families of the long-term absence of the maternal figure are not in place, and when they are present, they are extremely weak, as amply brought out in the research findings. Of particular note here is the clear negative impact that migration of women has on the education of children and the greater potential for neglect

The study was conducted by using a random sample of 1,200 households of mothers who had migrated to overseas for employment and had been absent from their families for over six months at the time of the study in the two districts with the highest incidences of female migration- Colombo (Colombo and Hanwella Divisional Secretariat Divisions), and Kurunegala (Kurunegala and Ridigama Divisional Secretariat Divisions). The representative study sample comprised 1.5% of the total number of female migrants with children in the two districts.


In addition to the household sample, the study included a sample survey of 200 children from each of the two districts (total of 400) representing the three main age groups (below 5 years, 6-14 years, and 15-17 years). The study also included 200 families in the Colombo district where mothers were working in Sri Lanka (100), and mothers were not working (100), both groups being in the same socio-economic background as that of migrant mothers.

A special feature of the study was the participation of children as researchers, some of them with mothers abroad.

The Impact on Children and Families of Mothers Migrating for Work Abroad research findings were launched on October 12 th 2006 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall by Save the Children in Sri Lanka. Some participant's views are compiled below:

"Most mothers migrate to other countries to earn more and educate their children, because they come from low income families. Some mothers go abroad to avoid their husbands, because their husbands are addicted to liquor, and the wives are unable to change their husbands' drinking habit. When the mothers migrate the children are neglected, and abused. It's sad to see children of my age are relenting for their mothers' love and care" says M.D.Suhani Pravindika (13) student of Hanwella Rajasinghe Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, who was a researcher for the study conducted

"Women play a major role in the national economy, such as tea pluckers, migrant women, and garment factory workers. They have to think about the welfare of the families, especially their children, when the migrate. Children do not understand everything. It's the duty of the parents to take care of their children. Mothers play a prominent role in a Sri Lankan household. And if and when anything goes wrong in the family mothers are blamed first. The women who go abroad to earn, have to make proper arrangements for their children" says Pathma Somakanthan, writer

"A mother is the best teacher. She makes the best citizens. Women migrate for the betterment of their children. They work hard, and send the money to their homes. The money is wasted by their husbands. Sometimes their children are not fed properly. Most of the women are disappointed on arrival, because the money they have sent home, has not been utilised in proper manner. Some children are abused by their own family members, when their mothers are away. As a result some women commit suicide after they come to know such incidents. The women have to provide an equal care giver or appropriate care giver before they leave the country" says Sithamparapillai Thurairaja, Senior State Counsel, Lecturer and Consultant

"Children , whose mothers have migrated are suffering psychologically. Although there is a care giver or sometimes more than one care giver. But it's not like your own mother' s love and care. An elderly brother told me while I was conducting the survey that, "he misses his mother so much, and wants to sleep on her lap". His mother is working abroad. Likewise there are roughly one million children living in Sri Lanka, whose mothers are abroad. The children need love and affection. I request all the mothers who are working abroad to come and see their children annually" says Dinushika Hansani, student of Lindsay Girl's College, Colombo, who was a researcher for the study conducted

"Families are neglected, when women migrate. Poverty should be alleviated from the society. Women should be economically empowered. They should be trained to manage money. We should create a market for the women locally. Then there is no need for them to go abroad for earning. Finally their skills could be bargained locally, not globally. And they will not have to worry about their torn family relationship with their unattended children. women going abroad to earn is a temporary solution for their problems. But if we consider to educate, empower and make them earn for their survival will be a long term solution, as well as their children are not abused.The government has a role to play in this matter" says Shakthivel Balakrishnan, development consultant