Karachi convention demands rights for home-based workers

Over 5 million women workers in Sindh are deprived of equal wage rights

KARACHI: A convention on Saturday called for registration of home-based workers with social security institutions, fixing their minimum wages and enacting laws to grant them a legal status.



The Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) hosted a convention at the Godhra Community Hall in New Karachi on the occasion of the International Day of Home-based Workers. The convention was headed by HBWWF General Secretary Zehra Khan, while Saba Faisal Edhi was the chief guest. Home-based women workers belonging to different cities and different industries attended the convention.

Khan said that as per an estimate there are 100 million home-based workers around the world and out of them 50 million reside in South Asia - of which 80% are women. However, these workers, despite being part of the production process, are deprived of their legal rights. They are forced to work on low wages and in difficult working conditions. She further said that a declaration was passed by South Asian women workers and other unions and federations in Kathmandu, Nepal, that measures would be taken for the rights, social protection and legal identity of over 50m home-based workers in the region.

Khan appreciated the provincial government for taking the lead in announcing the Home-based Workers Act 2018 in May and made history by recognizing more than five million home-based workers in Sindh. Under this Act, the home-based workers would be given equal rights as enjoyed by the workers of the formal sector of union making, electing their collective bargaining agents (CBA), social security and pension.



Deputy General Secretary of National Trade Union Federation Nasir Mansoor regretted that law to regulate home-based workers was not being implemented.

Information Secretary of Home-based Women Bangle Workers Union Hyderabad Shakeela Khan said, "The notification of minimum wages for home-based workers of glass bangle industry is yet to be issued despite the notice issued three years ago". 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2018.