AN EXPLORATION OF FACTOR INFLUENCE BY LABOR MIGRATION FROM RURAL TO URBAN IN SRI LANKA

Abstract

The globalization impacts the urbanization, labor migration and change in social economic conditions in the economy. The labor migration is one of the major problems in the society. The scare literatures exhibit the labor migration from rural to urban (LMRU) effect to the whole economy including, makes slums in urban areas, traffic congestion, air water pollution and cultural issues in economy. The problem is that the labor mobility from rural to urban and it leads to generate most issues in cities. This study focuses on Ridipana Grama Sewa Division, Badulla district, aiming the exploration causes and factors which affects the LMRU. The research employed qualitative research design and gathers data from 20 respondents through a developed interview guides and personal interviews. And Secondary data was collected through Newspapers, articles and books. The target population was labors who migrated from rural to urban cuties in Badulla district of Sri Lanka. The sample size was 20, and was selected based on purposive sampling technique. Thematic method was applied as analytical tool. The finding of the study revealed that various factors impact the LMRU including social, economics, region, phycology and environment factors as well. Furthermore, economic opportunity is one of the most important factors in LMRU as the urban areas have most job vacancies infrastructure development and road networks than rural area. According to the secondary data, The Urban population in 2022 is 19% greater than 2021 and beyond. And also in some cases, environment factors contribute to LMBR such as natural disasters, drought and other climate related issues. To reduce the LMRU, several strategies are proposed including, invest in rural infrastructure, Agriculture Modernization, Diversification of rural economy, enhancing the social security nets, PPP and support to the SMEs in rural areas. Finally, the LMRU is the crucial problem in economy and the “market intervention” and “civil society intervention” and “government intervention” That also helps to avoid LMRU.