It's the (Household) Economy, Stupid! Pension Reform, Collective Resistance and the Reproductive Sphere in Sri Lanka
In December 2010 during one of my field visits to Sri Lanka, I had called a worker to make an appointment to see her and her mother in law at home, both of who worked at the same factory. Chammi1 requested that I visit during the late afternoon hours of a Friday, despite being on night shift because her mother in law was going to be at the Department of Labour that morning. Latha had gone to the Department to claim her Employee Trust Fund/Employers Provident Fund (ETF/EPF) and obtain the necessary forms for claiming back her gratuity. She pointed out that she felt the need to claim her pension because of the impending changes to the pension system. She said: Don't know what kind of changes they would introduce poor we will also lose out on these scanty profits. This is the only real incentive for us to work and that too they may be taking away. I thought I would play it safe, take my funds out and put it in a savings account. Then when there is a need, I can always dip into it without the possible fear of losing it or waiting until I am 60 years old to claim my pension. I may be dead by then for all I know!