Action Programs for the Protection of Homeworkers: Ten Case Studies from Around the World

Action Programs for the Protection of Homeworkers: Ten Case Studies from Around the World

Homeworkers are a particularly vulnerable category of workers due to their ambiguous legal status, their isolation, and their low bargaining power. Action-oriented programs aiming to break the isolation of homeworkers also make them aware of their rights and help them to organize and to improve their bargaining position. These programs improve homeworkers' socio-economic situation through the provision of assistance and support services and have made substantial contributions to the improvement of their working and living conditions in many countries. Such programs are an important complement to legislative action and provide immediate and direct benefits to home workers. This book presents a selection of ten case studies from eight countries- Australia, Canada, India and Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States – as examples of such programs. Several of these were initiated and carried out by the trade unions, others by non-governmental organizations. In some cases, the home workers have formed their own organizations, associations, or commercial enterprises. The background and history of each case provide the context for and describe the problems programs aimed to address. As the program defines its objective and develops the different stages of its activities, progress is assessed, and valuable lessons are learned.

Ursula Huws

International Labour Office, Geneva

1995

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