The Advisory Board of the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund-Bildungswerk (DGB BW) regional initiative on strengthening social protection for construction workers in South Asia visited Sri Lanka from 07 to 11 March 2026 to explore ways to expand coverage in the construction sector. Bringing together experts from Germany, Switzerland, India, and Nepal, it engaged with trade unions, employers, and key institutions to assess gaps, particularly for workers in informal employment. It also joined local unions in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) in Colombo.

Discussions with the Ceylon Construction and Allied Workers Federation (CAWF), comprising 13 unions, and separate interactions with a large group of construction workers highlighted critical challenges faced by workers, including income insecurity, lack of formal contracts, and limited access to social security. The discussions also explored ways to reach informal workers and make existing social protection mechanisms more inclusive.

Consultations with the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Sri Lanka Social Security Board (SSB), and the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) focused on strengthening regulatory frameworks, expanding welfare systems, and increasing employer participation. Stakeholders expressed strong interest in developing a dedicated welfare framework, drawing on models such as India’s Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCWWB) scheme and international experiences shared by the Advisory Board.

A key highlight was the meeting with Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe, where the delegation presented a concept for a sectoral welfare scheme for construction workers along with a brief proposal outlining its approach. This engagement reflected growing stakeholder commitment to reform and underscored the openness to dialogue among unions, employers, and government institutions. Building on this foundation, DGB BW, together with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), will advance multi-stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, and technical cooperation to support the development of inclusive and sustainable social protection systems for construction workers in Sri Lanka.