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

Abstract

This study investigates the economic impact of domestic violence (DV) on female tea plantation workers in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods approach grounded in feminist economics and care theory, field research was conducted across five tea estates with 40 participants, including 30 women and 10 men. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and health record verification. The study measured DV incidence and types, estimating direct and indirect economic costs such as lost income, reduced productivity, healthcare expenditures, and increased unpaid care work.

Findings reveal that 70% of women experienced DV, primarily physical (62%) and psychological (57%) abuse, resulting in significant economic losses of LKR 36,000–72,000 per worker annually due to missed workdays. Healthcare costs and informal borrowing further exacerbated financial vulnerability. Survivors reported increased time spent on unpaid care work, leading to “time poverty” and reduced opportunities for income diversification. Male participants highlighted alcohol use, financial stress, and patriarchal norms as key drivers of DV, reflecting entrenched social attitudes. The research underscores the systemic and hidden costs of DV, which are largely absent from policy considerations and economic analyses.

The study concludes that DV is both a human rights violation and a structural economic issue in the tea estate sector. Addressing its impact requires gender-sensitive estate policies, accessible reporting mechanisms, psychosocial support, flexible leave structures, and integration of DV considerations into national labour and social protection policies. Recognizing the hidden economic costs of DV is crucial for promoting gender equity, enhancing women’s economic participation, and ensuring the sustainability of the plantation economy.