Hidden burdens : exploring the economic impact of domestic violence in Sri Lanka’s tea estate sector (Nuwara Eliya district)

Abstract

Introduction

Domestic violence (DV) is a significant global issue that transcends cultural and economic boundaries, representing a major violation of human rights. It negatively impacts public health, productivity, and economic participation, with women disproportionately affected due to their unpaid work and caregiving roles (UN Women, 2020; Folbre, 2006; Elson, 1999). In Global South nations, where informal economies are common, DV contributes to women's economic disempowerment by limiting their access to paid labour, reducing productivity, and increasing time poverty (Heise et al., 2002). Often, poor women lack access to services and legal protection, which further marginalizes them and perpetuates cycles of violence and exclusion.

The tea estate sector in Sri Lanka is a major trade-driven industry that employs many Tamil-speaking women from marginalized communities. Despite being the backbone of the estate economy, they face underpayment and overwork, often in harsh conditions without legal protection. Domestic violence (DV) in this sector remains largely unaddressed by national policy and estate governance. Furthermore, there is a dearth of studies on the unpaid costs of DV, such as lost income and increased healthcare expenses, which are often overlooked by conventional economic analyses.

Hence, there is a need to address this gap by examining the economic cost of DV. Utilizing a feminist-economics framework, it explores the intersection of DV with labour, care work, and financial survival in Sri Lanka’s plantation economy. By highlighting the ‘unpaid costs' of DV, the research contributes to gender and economic policy debates, advocating for a re-evaluation of how violence is measured and addressed in labour and development discussions.