SEWA

Women Work & Poverty

Policy Conference on Home Based Workers of South Asia

18-20 January, 2007, New Delhi

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UNIFEM and SEWA organized a Regional Policy Conference, ‘Women Work & Poverty: Policy Conference, on Home Based Workers of South Asia’, in New Delhi, from January 18-20, 2007. The key objective of Conference was to advocate for bringing the benefits of growth to the home based workers in the five countries in South Asia, in order to lift them out of poverty. Specifically, the workshop deliberated on issues of policy for the home based workers; fair trade; social security and building voice and organizations. The Conference was attended by over 200 home based workers (on the first day) and delegates from Governments, country HomeNets and members of civil society from all the five countries of South Asia - Bangladesh (5) , India (35), Nepal (10), Pakistan(11) and Sri Lanka (9). Delegates from international agencies like ILO, Ethical Trading Initiatives (ETI) and WIEGO provided expertise to the workshop. Inaugural Session

The Conference was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Dr Man Mohan Singh. Ms. Renana Jhabvala and Ms. Chandni Joshi welcomed Prime Minister of India and Ms. Ela Bhatt presented a shawl made by home based workers to the Prime Minister. In her welcome speech, Ms Renana Jhabvala, President, Home Net South Asia, highlighted the large numbers of the home based workers in the region and their poor earnings and dismal conditions of work. There are about 50 million home based workers in South Asia, out of which 30 million are from India, she said. In Bangladesh, 71% of all women workers are home based, in contrast to only 20% of all male workers who are home based. Similarly, in Pakistan, 65% of all women workers are home based, in contrast to only 4% of all male workers who are home based and in India, 51% of all women workers are home based as against 11% of all male workers who are home based. She also highlighted the contribution of the home-based workers to the country’s growth and to its exports. For example, in India, the incense-stick industry contributes $300 million annually to production in India including an export value of $56 million. The garment industry in Bangladesh contributes approximately $454 million to its national income and is the country’s largest export earner and fourth largest employer. Pakistan accounts for 80% of the world’s match-grade footballs and earns nearly $50 million in foreign exchange from this industry alone. This market is growing rapidly. Despite its contribution, the true extent and nature of home work has not been reflected in the official statistics nor perhaps recognized by the workers themselves. Home

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based workers remain invisible and unrecognized and are also unprotected by the law. She called for a national policy on home based workers. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Man Mohan Singh highlighted the current invisibility of home based workers and undertook to take forward the National Policy for home based workers in India and also to promote their issues at the SAARC level. He said, ‘I compliment UNIFEM and SEWA for taking this initiative to bring together representatives of the civil society of our South Asia to discuss issues of great contemporary significance …I have always been inspired by the work of Elaben and SEWA in empowering women and other disadvantaged sections by giving them new hope …I do believe that women’s empowerment should be a major objective of our social, political and economic policy in South Asia region as a whole. Most home based workers happen to be women. The women of South Asia have waited for long to secure equality in all senses of that term. They can and they should wait no longer. It should be our solemn and common resolve in South Asia to ensure gender equity and equality.’ Full speech included in the annexure. Elaben reminded the conference of the long journey and struggle of the home based workers including the struggle for passing the ILO Convention 177. She especially highlighted the need for social security and reminded the Government of its commitment to the Social Security Bill for workers in the informal economy. Elaben Bhatt also urged the SAARC to take a more active role in the strengthening the voice and taking up their issues at the regional level.

Home based workers speak: Voices from the grassroots

Jaitun Shaikh an incense stick worker from India and Padma Kumari Gurung a handloom weaver from Nepal spoke about their experiences of being home based workers. Jaitunben said that in spite of working more than eight hours a day, she was unable to earn more than Rs. 25. She said that after organizing and joining SEWA, they were able to bargain and considerably increase their earnings.

Excerpts from the Indian Prime Minister’s Speech: Charting out a Road Map ‘The women of South Asia have waited for long to secure equality in all senses of that term. They can and they should wait no longer. It should be our solemn and common resolve in South Asia to ensure gender equity and equality. We would like to continue the collection of appropriate statistics (on home based workers) and in fact expand it to find out more about their work, their earnings, their skill levels and what more needs to be done to enable them to lead a life of dignity and self respect. Our main challenge is that of increasing the skills, productivity and earnings of these workers. …. Many (home based workers) have successfully made the transition from traditional techniques to modern ones. This needs to be encouraged and spread over other sectors where women home based workers are employed in large numbers. I assure you that our Government will listen to your needs and extend recognition to the newly created network of home based workers. I understand that your Conference intends to propose country specific policies for home basedworkers, within the framework suggested by the ILO Convention. We are examining various possibilities and I greatly welcome any suggestions that may emanate from your Conference. I look forward to receiving those recommendations. Our Government will be happy to take forward the National Policy for India as well as to facilitate the programme for countries of South Asia.

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Padma Kumari said that she learnt the skill of weaving when she was a small girl and is a skilled weaver. She felt that the market was changing rapidly and she asked for good linkages to the market. In her vote of thanks, Ms Chandini Joshi, Regional Programme Director, UNIFEM South Asia Office pointed out a very special milestone, that this Conference marks, is the launch of HomeNet South Asia (HNSA). Formed in 2000 by SEWA and UNIFEM, this is a vibrant network of 600 organizations representing over 3,00,000 home based workers from the five countries. ‘Having evolved as the collective voice of HBWs, it carries their voices to the highest levels, to influence legislation, policies and programmes. A dream ten years ago - it is a reality today. This transformation is the result of the collective and dedicated work of diverse partners, specially the HomeNets of five countries.’

Briefly tracing the history of UNIFEM, Ms Joshi said, born thirty years ago, UNIFEM is the result of a mission that the women’s movement embarked upon, to create a women’s fund in the United Nations that would dedicate itself to improving women’s lives in the developing world. For three decades UNIFEM has worked with a wide range of partners to advance women’s human rights, to empower women in an unequal world, to help women access social and economic opportunities and to work towards making societies freer of violence, poverty and discrimination. UNIFEM’s ultimate goal is to move women from the periphery of development to its centre. To make gender equality and the empowerment of women a reality, there is a need to move from a numerical to a strategic presence in decision-making – and to bring under-represented and excluded groups, such as women informal workers, into the development process. Ms Joshi concluded ‘It is true, that no one person, no single individual, no one system — no matter how powerful — can ensure that women’s human rights and gender equality are achieved worldwide. Partnerships and synergy are key to sustainable solutions. Each of us has a part to play and there is a need to connect and work together.’

TECHNICAL SESSIONS The technical sessions of the conference focused on protecting home based workers through ratification of ILO Convention 177; increasing incomes and employment through trade; social security for the home based workers; building voice of the home based workers and a national policy for the home based workers. Session I Overview and Journey of Home Based Workers in South Asia

‘This conference is a vignette of our work on home-based workers, an issue that has been close to UNIFEM since 1995. This journey began with lobbying with 15 governments in the Asia Pacific region with SEWA, to adopt the ILO Convention 177 on Home Work. For the first time, it was acknowledged that they were entitled to minimum standards in international law, like other sectors of the workforce …Again in 2000, the South Asia Regional Policy Seminar a joint initiative of UNIFEM, IDRC and WIEGO, lead to the ‘Kathmandu Declaration’, which defined what progressive policies and programmes were needed to promote the rights of women in the informal sector, as well as articulated the need for the establishment of HomeNet South Asia. Ms Chandini Joshi, Regional Programme Director, UNIFEM South Asia Office

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In their presentation Ms. Renana Jhabvala, SEWA and Dr. Jeemol Unni, Gujarat Institute of Development Research1 highlighted the major characteristics of the South Asian informal economy. Over 65% of the workers are in the informal sector. If agriculture is included, this figure increases to over 85%. Half the workers in South Asia work in non-conventional workplaces, such as home, construction sites or the street. If agriculture is included, the percentage is more than 70%. A common feature of home based work is low earnings. Data from India and Bangaldesh both illustrate that home based piece rate workers earn approximately half that of non-home based daily wage workers. Home based workers who are SEWA members earn about Rs. 7,800 annually, compared to an average non-home based annual income of Rs. 59,700. Home based work plays a critical role in globalised value chains, yet receives a marginal percentage of the final profit. For example, a Pakistani prawn peeler earns 2.5% of what the domestic consumer pays. In addition, home based work is insecure. According to a regional study, lean season wages for home based women workers in India and Bangladesh are as low as a quarter of peak season wages, with a fifty percent decrease in hours worked. Insecurity also stems from lack of coverage or protection under labour laws, no social security, lack of voice, limited access to technology, low productivity, and high needs for credit. Mr. Diwankar Chand, HomeNet Nepal, in his paper on the Overview and Journey of Home Based Workers in Nepal2, pointed out that poverty is the greatest challenge that Nepal faces today. Although the government has tried several approaches over many years, a significant improvement has not been accomplished. In Nepal, home based workers constitute a significant portion of Nepal’s informal economy, with little recognition or security. As around the world, home based workers in Nepal must grapple with insecurity, low wages, little or no legal and social protection, poor working conditions, minimal or no worker's benefits, illiteracy and non-representation.

1 Full paper included in the Annexure. 2 2 Full paper included in the Annexure

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Home Based Workers In South Asia Facts And Figures

• There are about 50 million home based workers in South Asia, out of which 30 million are from India.

• In Bangladesh, 71% of all women workers are home based, in contrast to only 20% of all male workers who are home based.

• In Pakistan, 65% of all women workers are home based, in contrast to only 4% of all male workers who are home based.

• In India, 51% of all women workers are home based as against 11% of all male workers who are home based.

• Home based work is increasing. In 2000, 35% of all women workers were home based workers. In 2005, 51% of all women workers were home based workers.

• They earn very little –the daily wages for Home based women workers (Piece rate workers) – Rs.27/-, as compared to the non home based daily wages – Rs.58/-.

• Annual Income of self employed home-based women is Rs.7800/- as against the annual income of non-home-based women workers in the unorganized sector which is Rs.59, 700/-.

• Mostly the young work as home based worker - 51% of the women workers are under 30 years, out of which, 8% of workers are children under 14 years.

• Home-based workers contribute to the country’s growth and to its exports. For example, the incense-stick industry contributes $300 million annually to production in India including an export value of $56 million. The garment industry in Bangladesh contributes approximately $454 million to its national income and is the country’s largest export earner and fourth largest employer. Pakistan accounts for 80% of the world’s match-grade footballs and earns nearly $50

Mr Chand pointed out that HomeNet Nepal (HNN) seeks to work with home based workers, but as a catalyst: an innovative organisation that promotes home based workers rights while working toward self-sustainability. Rather than become donor dependent or make the “mistakes’” of NGOs in Nepal, HomeNet Nepal’s goal is to eradicate poverty through promoting sustainability and security for home based workers. The process of HomeNet Nepal’s inception began in 1995. In 2000, The Kathmandu Declaration provided the catalyst to organize home based workers to ensure their integration into the national development agenda. Following the recommendations of the Kathmandu Declaration, the establishment of HomeNet South Asia facilitated regional efforts to increase visibility of home based workers and strengthen local organizations. The objectives of HomeNet Nepal are to provide visibility, social protection, and organize home based workers. It also seeks to develop and implement national policies, ratify ILO Convention 177 and to work to eradicate poverty through the creation of production oriented employment in support of national policies for home based workers. Overall, the main thrust of Home Net Nepal’s work is to facilitate, rather than provide for, advocacy and services toward home based workers’ self-reliance. Ms. Nigar Ahmed, HomeNet Pakistan, in her paper on the Overview and Journey of Home Based Workers in Pakistan, pointed out that HomeNet Pakistan grew out of the initial efforts of Aurat Foundation. Founded in 1986, Aurat Foundation seeks to empower women as decision-makers. It also works with society, planners and legislators to develop an enabling environment for women’s empowerment. In 1988, Aurat Foundation conducted a study which elucidated the position of home based workers, particularly their low earnings and insecurity of work. From this point, Aurat Foundation sought to work with home based workers. However, donor funding and diffuse projects through the country prevented development of a primary focus on women’s economic needs. Due

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to a project-driven approach, Aurat Foundation found themselves at a disjuncture between words/priorities and their actions. With the later support and guidance of UNIFEM and SEWA, Aurat Foundation was able to develop HomeNet Pakistan. Since there were not any organizations in Pakistan that worked to organize home based workers themselves, Aurat Foundation was thus able to focus on women’s primary issue, economic empowerment. At the start of their journey, they considered around what and with whom they could organize. Citizen’s groups and organizations working to prevent violence against women became primary allies. In the presentation’s closing, HomeNet Pakistan shared real-life stories of home based workers who have traveled long and hard to seek market linkages and improve their income. Through these women, HomeNet also confirmed how far they, an organization of home based workers, can work to ensure progress for Pakistan.

Ms Sumedha G Jayasena, Ministry of Child Development & Women’s Empowerment, Sri Lanka, presented the Government’s Perspective on Home Based Workers. In Sri Lanka, a large percentage of employment is in the informal sector. After the economy was liberalized in 1977, cheap imports and competition resulted in the loss of employment and opportunity, particularly for the self-employed. The present Government has taken steps to develop and strengthen self-employed work through twenty ministries, including sports, youth

and labour. The Government provides loans, training, market linkages and social security in its package to support informal sector women workers, particularly in agriculture and fisheries. The Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment particularly focuses on women’s upliftment through loans and training. Sri Lanka continues to face challenges in collecting data on self-employed and home based workers. Although social security is available, lack of awareness prevents its widespread utilization and benefit. Sri Lanka must work to develop a comprehensive policy on home based and self employed women workers, to ensure workers access their rights. The Ministry expressed optimism that this HomeNet South Asia meeting would provide guidance in developing policy for self-employed and home based workers, particularly domestic workers, an initiative from which all countries in South Asia can benefit.

HomeNet Pakistan’s strategy began with a mapping, with UNIFEM’s support, of home based worker organizations. After choosing four core organizations with different focus areas to form HomeNet Pakistan, the organizations came together to find a common agenda. They began with developing communications and advocacy material, and began raising the debate on how the economic situation of women has changed over the past two decades. Through convening stakeholders and pushing home based workers’ rights, HomeNet Pakistan has started to work on policy issues and to develop a national policy. Nigar Ahmed, President, HomeNet Pakistan

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Elaine Jones, WIEGO presented on the Home Based Workers: Global Picture and Movement. WIEGO has found that women predominate in work where poverty risk is highest and earnings lowest, as unpaid family workers or industrial outworkers, while men are concentrated as informal employers/employees who earn more and experience greater security. Home based work has been driven by global competition, information technology and declining employment globally. Each of these factors promotes an increase in workers employed in decentralized, sub-contracted systems who operate from home. Differing perspectives segment home based work into those employed by choice, which include both highly paid and skilled professionals and less skilled workers, primarily women, who prefer the comfort or flexibility of working at home. A third category includes those home-based by necessity, typically manual workers who operate in cramped, unsafe surroundings. WIEGO highlighted three approaches to support home based workers: 1) Changing corporate practices through ethical trade; 2) Changing terms of trade (fair trade); 3) Changing the policy environment. Session II Increasing Employment Through Trade Sharmistha Mohapatra the Chief Operating officer of the SEWA Trade Facilitation Centre in her introductory remarks in the session, highlighted the following key points that need to be addressed to ensure that HBW benefit from trade opportunities in the region: Trade Barriers: Trade barriers are encountered are both in terms of tariff, non-tariff barriers

(NTB). As we move on the SAFTA roadmap, the developing member-states will bring down their tariffs to 0-5 percent in three years while the SAARC least developed country like Nepal will do it in a time span of 10 years. However NTB by way of : complex customs and administrative procedures, stringent technical regulations, and expensive testing and certification requirements, complicated marking and packaging norms and specific limitations, pose serious challenges. There is an urgent need to liberalize, demystify enable easy trade for home based products in the region.

Promote a Collective Enterprise Approach: The small size of operations and the scattered

nature of the production base for HBW lead to uneconomic size that poses constraints on benefiting from economies of scale, application of appropriate technology to improve productivity. It is important to organize HBW and build their own collective enterprises to build the critical mass to improve efficiency and withstand competition from large and medium enterprises.

Trade related capacity building: HBW need to build their capacities in terms of skill up

gradation, Design development, product development, and organizational development. This is imperative to build their technical know-how and develop production processes that lead to

Home-Based Workers: A Global Perspective Home based workers constitute a significant share of workers in developing countries, ranging from 15 to 66% of the non-agricultural labour force. They also are a large share of workers in key export industries, ranging from a quarter to 3/5 of the garment-textile sector. Overall, women are a major share of home-based workers, comprising 30-90% of all home based workers, and up to 92% of industrial outworkers only. Elaine Jones, WIEGO

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timely delivery of goods that are competitively priced, standardized and meet quality standards of export markets.

Promotion of home based products: Most trade promotion activities by Country Governments

are designed for large and medium enterprises in the organized sector. There is a compelling need for special trade promotion initiatives for HB products. Initiatives to build an exclusive retail platform for HB products in each of the South Asian countries, conduct buyer sellers meet, develop a priority list of home based products will give the much needed thrust for the trade of home based products.

Provide access to Information Technology: Home based workers are scattered over rural areas and in the peripheries of urban centers. Therefore both the information divide the digital divide tend to be acute and accentuated. To bridge this disconnect ICT tools need to become an integral part of institution building of home based workers. It provides a platform for knowledge sharing and enables the voices of the poor to be heard in macro policy dialogues.

Research on trade and home based work: Given the importance of the contribution of home based workers to global trade there is a need to undertake research and studies to assess and articulate their contribution to the economy. Specialized studies to identify the needs and challenges that they face in a sector specific manner and also in terms of infrastructure, technology, research & development based interventions required to enhance their creativity and productivity need to be undertaken.

Mr. Jairam Ramesh, the Indian Minister of State for Trade and Commerce, in his speech stressed on the role of employment as a key yard stick in evaluating trade policy. He provided the audience with a few case studies such as those in the weaving sector, coir and reed particularly and leather products to elucidate the Indian government’s interventions to support activities which house millions of workers despite weakening trade advantages and sectoral

decline in lieu of liberalization. He further drew attention to research that his ministry had recently commissioned which conducted by RIS which suggests that trade can hold immense employment potential. This presentation was followed with a round of questions. The issue of consumption patterns and marketing were flagged as key concerns which trade policy and dialogue on enterprise related social protection should take on board. In particular issues surrounding the lack of marketing drives and initiatives from the government was cited, especially in the South Asian context. Further, another member of the audience highlighted the immense struggle involved in providing women home based workers markets even within the South Asian region and imposed on the minister if SAFTA could be geared for such a cause. In response, the minister suggested that the organizations concerned with marketing could organize an exhibition of the work of such home based workers at the next SAARC summit to be held in Delhi. He committed to providing support for such an event. Further, he stressed that he would take the focus on marketing and linkage creation from the conference to the national and South Asian level.

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Making Markets work for the Poor: The SEWA Trade Facilitation Center (STFC) The SEWA Trade Facilitation Center (STFC) was established by the artisan members of SEWA to turn their activity in to the commercial venture with the main objective of promoting access to national and global markets. STFC has been registered as a Section 25 company, owned and managed by the women artisans. It is a unique company where artisans themselves are the suppliers and shareholders. It plays a facilitator role by providing a whole range of businessdevelopment inputs ranging from market readiness, market linkages, market intelligence, product development, quality standardization, R & D, Information systems, access to capital, state of the art technology, to its member-producers to help them become ‘Market Ready’.

Ms. Jhabwala asked the Minister why his ministry did not provide certain protection cover and programmes to the sectors they covered as opposed to waiting for the unorganized sector bill. Mr. Ramesh stressed that such welfare funds had been set up and he was keen to take such work forward in the future.

Ms Reema Nanavati, Director Economic and Rural Development of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) and the Chairperson of SEWA Trade Facilitation Centre paper was presented in her absence. The paper highlighted that SEWA has organized around 15000 craft women artisan and has created Kutch Craft Association (KCA) and Banaskantha DWCRA Mahila SEWA Association (BDMSA), the artisans own district level federations in 1994 and 1997 respectively. The KCA and the BDMSA promoted the SEWA Trade Facilitation Centre (STFC), which facilitates the informal economy workers in formalizing the processes, set systems, access markets, and protect incomes. The key objectives of STFC were as follows • Development of a sustainable and profitable business model where the surplus is ploughed back

into strengthening the business organization and expanding the member / shareholder base. • Competitive product development based on the artisans’ traditional skills. • Efficient production management while integrating remote producers by achieving economies

of scale, optimal product sales mix, and more efficient utilization of current capacity / resources.

• Build the productive capacity of artisans so that they can compete and be integrated in the mainstream markets

• Maximize the employment of qualified artisans at fair wages and fair working conditions – target of approximately 2,300 artisans by 2011 and 15,000 artisans by 2015.

In order to address the issue of poverty through trade there is immense potential for inclusion of home based workers in the mainstream trade. Based on SEWA’s experience of organizing the home based workers, providing them with market access and building their own business organization Ms Nanavati made the following recommendations -

• Establishment of a repository of knowledge and exchange expertise • Facilitate exposure to artisans among member countries • Formulate a co-ordination committee for Grass Root Trading Network. • Draft a memorandum of co-operation/ participation amongst participants

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India’s USP – Handwork and home based work ‘India has a reputation of being the ultimate destination for value added items that use traditional arts and crafts. The high quality of skills of artisans help ensure world class products. India is also a power house for the future and its labour component is one of its greatest assets along with technological leaps and bounds being made the industry in the country. Therefore, any major brand or retailer would not think twice about consolidating and growing their presence in the country.’ ‘Hand work is India's biggest USP. Any product that requires minute detailing specially in embroideries becomes a natural for India. China, our biggest competitor does not have much by way of hand work besides, we in India are willing to undertake small orders, something the Chinese do not undertake’ Mr Terence Simon from Monsoon Accessorize, a partner of ETI

ETHICS IN TRADING Basic principles of the ETI Homework Guidelines

• homeworkers have an important role to play in production • not aiming to remove homeworkers from supply chains • improving standards with HWs is complex and needs a very gradual approach • that members can take an individual and collaborative approach

• The constitution of a national level task force on Women and Trade is imperative to give an inclusive approach to trade in the country by focusing on the poor and women in trade related

matters. Ms. Vinita Singh from Ethical Trading Initiatives presented details about the organization and development of an international base code which is being adopted and used by several multi national corporations engaged in varied sectors from garments to horticulture. ETI is a UK-based alliance of retailers, NGOs and trade unions working to develop good

practice in the implementation of codes of labour practice. It responded to its members’ requests for guidance on homeworkers by creating a generic practical document – the ETI homeworker guidelines. The guidelines define the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in addressing homeworkers’ conditions. They were developed over four years through extensive consultation with retailers, manufacturers, contractors and civil society actors in UK and India . Since 2004, ETI has also established the National Homeworkers Group, which aims to test the implementation of the guidelines. The NHG is a multi-stakeholder agency, overseeing implementation of the guidelines in areas where homeworkers are based.

This was followed by another presentation by Mr Terence Simon from Monsoon Accessorize, a partner of ETI on their experience with working with home based workers and the codes of conduct. He said that the key factors that influenced sourcing from India versus other countries, were quality of product and cost but equally the hand worked, embellished value add that is typically Indian. Another critical consideration is flexibility, reflected in the ability to turnaround large quantities quickly, production of even very small quantities and ability to develop products involving multiple and complex skills – for example, a dress might have ikat woven fabric with beadwork embellishment and zari borders.

This was followed by three country case studies on organizational interventions to promote women and their work through marketing and enterprise development within the context of globalization.

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Ms. Kala from Siyath Foundation shared Siyath’s experience on Trade and home based workers. The coir workers who were lowest level in ladder, hidden from national statistics, low investment capacity and with less bargaining power was difficult for them to stand in the trade. With the intervention of Siyath Foundation, backward and forward integration have been forged, access of raw material and sales and marketing have been fostered and there is an improvement in the trade for the home based workers. She stated that for real results, organizations needed to create a greater viability for their own workers and products than depend on government interventions alone. Ms. Kapadia from Empowerment through Creative Innovation (ECI) in Pakistan discussed basic issues involved in training and organizing women to undertake their work within an entrepreneurial framework. She stressed on the role basic numeric and management skills could play in empowering women and making them more able to access other schemes and privileges which would improve their conditions of work and life. Ms. Prableen Singh from Fab India went on to present some details on the business model which her organization uses to provide large quantities of employment without compromising quality and viability. Stressing that the key input needed was improved infrastructure with adequate product development with a focus on quality. She stressed that the key way to change the world and the conditions of women workers was based on understanding and reacting to current consumption patterns and by creating products that can alter them. Highlighting the fact that Fab India never advertised their products, she stated that there was immense potential to grow with home based products and the key was connecting women to consumers without any quality compromises. Finally, Ms. Elaine Jones from WIEGO provided insights on the global economic patterns which are influencing home based workers and the need to gather more information and analysis on this link within the region. She further elaborated on the role WIEGO as a research body, especially the Global Markets Programme has played in this process in the past. Stressing that flexible employment was emerging as a key trend across the globe, the role of people based organizations and minimum protection for workers was also correspondingly an important need. These presentations ended with a final round of queries which focused on the following:

• A participant from ISST mentioned that women home based workers thus far surveyed by Homenet South Asia were often involved in face to face relationships with consumers without any linkage to the global market. In response Ms. Jones stressed that in many such cases, women would be part of chains without any knowledge of their larger sector or the bigger picture. Ms. Mohapatra stated that viability was the key issue and special concerted efforts were required for such workers who faced a declining market.

• Ms. Singh (ETI) asked the participant from Fab India, about any development body support that her organization received to which there was a negative response.

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Session III Protection For The Home Based Workers

Speaking on the ILO Convention, Mr. Dan Gallin from Global Labour Institute, Geneva3 gave a historical perspective to the Convention how the convention was adopted, what was debated, and what was included in the convention.

To date, ratification of the Home Work

Convention has been a slow process. Finland ratified first in 1998, Ireland followed in 1999 and the Convention, having been ratified by the statutory minimum of two countries, became effective in 2000. Albania and the Netherlands then followed in 2002. Last year Argentina became the fifth country to ratify.

Yet, the need for regulating home work has, if anything, become more urgent. Home work appears to be on the rise around the world, because of shrinking formal employment opportunities, competitive pressures in the global economy leading to more outsourcing and subcontracting and, on the high-tech end of home work, the spread of information technology enabling workers to provide commercial or technical services from home.

Mr Bassnet, the representative from GFONT presented on ‘Organizing the Unorganized: Case of Nepal’4. From the very beginning, GEFONT has been working in informal sector along with the

3 3 Full paper included in the Annexure 4 Full paper included in the Annexure

Ratification of the Home Worker Convention 177 ‘Trade unions should remember that the adoption of the Home Work Convention in 1996 was an achievement of the labour movement, but that such an achievement can only be of lasting significance if it is translated into ratifications and into national legislation. As we have seen, ten years on, the battle for ratification has barely begun.

At a time when formal employment and trade union membership is shrinking while the informal economy is growing, all over the world, and where the future of the labour movement therefore largely depends on its ability to organise the informal economy of which home workers are such an important part, unions cannot afford to neglect the valuable instrument that their representatives put into their hands ten years ago. Ratification of the Home Work Convention should be a priority on top of the agenda of trade unions everywhere. ’ Dan Gallin, GLI, Geneva

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formal sector workers. In the four founder national federations of GEFONT, only Nepal Independent Hotel Workers Union was purely formal sector union during the formation of GEFONT. Other three federations were of mixed character covering both formal and informal sectors of employment. Nepal Independent Workers union had covered workers of all types of enterprises of manufacturing sector and informal economy workers like painters, garbage cleaners, plumbers, carpenters, building & construction workers, loaders and porters. Mr Bassnet also mentioned the health Cooperative and Micro health insurance scheme of GEFONT which is a Kathmandu based health cooperative for both formal & informal sector, but micro health insurance scheme is basically designed for rural workers mainly agricultural workers, currently it is benefiting 900 working families of two districts in mid western Terai of Nepal which naturally covers H-B workers.

Ms. Manali Shah from HomeNet India, highlighted the issues of organizing home based workers – lack of visibility; minimum wages; housing, lack of employer-employee relationship, occupational health, social security and lack of skills. Home Net India’s demands included government recognition of the organizations of home based workers, recognition of workers through identity cards, home based workers to be included in Minimum wage Act, tripartite mechanism to implement minimum wages, development of housing schemes for the home based workers, developing occupational tools and the need for an umbrella legislation. Brief presentations were also made by Mr Khurshid Ahmed, Pakistan Workers Federation and Mr Bala Tembo, from Ceylon Mercantile Industrial and General Workers Union, Sri Lanka, on their experiences of organizing informal sector workers in their respective countries. A.B.M. Abdus Sattar, Joint Secretary, Ministry Of Labour And Employment, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh highlighted dearth of data is both a cause and consequence of the invisible status of home based workers. In addition, there is scant effort made, and almost no data exists to distinguish children from adults engaged in home based works to understand the impact of such activities on women’s life and health and on children’s health and schooling. Despite the scarcity and low estimates of official data, small-scale studies over the past decade have documented the scope of home based workers. Responding to increasing international competition, firms use homeworkers to externalize production and minimize risk in order to cut costs. One of the main outcomes of the research is the dual character of contracted home based work. On the one hand, HBW is an important source of income for the home worker households. He pointed out a recent law – the Enactment of Updated and Codified ‘The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, which ensures Safe Working Conditions; compensation for Disablement, Injury, Death; maternity Protection; freedom of Association and Bargaining Rights and elimination of Child Labour. He also made several other recommendations which included Setting up a Technical Committee to Promote national Policies, bilateral Cooperation, regional Cooperation; creation of More Employment Opportunity and inclusion of Home based Product in SAFTA Priority List. The presentation by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Nepal, the leading agency in gender for the Government of Nepal was made by Mr S.P. Mainali, Secreatry, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, Nepal. He highlighted that until and unless the rights of women and dignified life of them have not been protected and guaranteed, there will always injustice, inhuman, poverty, various forms of discrimination and exploitation and will keep the women far from mainstream which ultimately stunts the overall development of the country. The presentation also pointed out that the single goal of the Tenth Plan of Nepal is “poverty reduction”. CEDAW, CRC, BPFA and MDG are the major guiding instruments for the Government of Nepal for in-gendering its policies and programs. Gender matter has been considered as a cross-cutting issues by all the ministries. The major policy in this respect is ‘gender mainstreaming through empowerment (social, political and economic), gender equity and, inclusion of women. The government of Nepal feels that to cope the issues related to gender, an integrated approach rather than piece basis should be launched in coordination and cooperation with all the stakeholders and

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international communities. These future action will first of all be intervened in policy and then work in coordination and integrated approach with the civil societies. Mr Upali Sriyananda Athukorala, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka, pointed out that Traditional forms of social security have not been successful in reaching the informal sector due to delivery problems arising from the inherent nature of this sector. The two main social security legislations in the country, the Employees Provident Fund Act and the Employees Trust Fund Board Act applies to workplaces even with one employee, and the latter even offers membership even to the self employed. In addition there are other schemes implemented by other ministries, which attempt to provide security to the informal sector. He pointed that the Ministry recognizes that decent work deficits are more pronounces in the informal sector and consequently, recently, the government passed the Decent Work Policy and Action Plan. After the presentations , the dais was open for the reactions from Trade Unions from India. In the response to the question raised; Mr. Mittal from HMS said, “In country like India where informal employment is growing at larger scale; ‘organizing informal sector cannot be ignored’. Referring to C 177 he said, ‘HMS would very much advocate for the ratification of C 177 in India’. Ms Vinita Singh, from ITUC, briefly dwelled on the nature of women’s work in India and the large number of women home based workers. She said that AITUC was with SEWA in the ratification of the convention. Session IV Social Security For The Home Based Workers Ms. Ratna Sudershan, Director, ISST presented the findings of a regional study on ‘Social Security needs for Women Home based workers in South Asia’5. The key findings of this study are firstly, that economic security (enough work to earn a reasonable income) emerges as the topmost need of home based workers. Ensuring economic security requires social protection interventions to be in tune with the anticipated development trajectory.

Secondly, there is a strong case to be made for a locale specific approach to development, given the high dependence of many groups of home based workers on local and seasonal market demand, and the need for local institutions through which social protection initiatives can be channeled.

Thirdly, home based work is a part of a system of production, and an

improvement in the situation of home based workers is thus likely to lead to, as well as follow from, a more substantial re-structuring of production and marketing systems.

5 5 Full paper included in the Annexure

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Fourthly, the poverty of home based workers means that there is a high demand for immediate, and ‘short term benefits’. Designing a social protection framework needs to have a short as well as longer term vision, where the former may be more in the form of social assistance.

Fifthly, health and housing emerge as top priorities. While it is clear that there are strong linkages between such social insecurities and the nature of work, tackling them calls for looking beyond the immediate work context. In particular, better planning of housing and habitat and provision of infrastructure calls for collective investments rather than on an individual basis.

And finally, given the wide range of needs, successful social protection initiatives will call for joint action by many agencies. Partnerships are thus central.

Thereafter, Ms. Annie Kurien, from Social and Human Resource Consultants from Sri Lanka presented some key lessons on the disaster management, with special reference to the home based workers. She listed the following key issues which adversely effects the home based workers - lack of a Gender Empowering intervention; societal perception of low status of women affecting substantial income earning due poor supports development; vocational skills training opportunities

to women (widows, single women, married women, adolescent girls; poor financial support to women and poor livelihood oriented guidance; poor community based support system to enable women’s productive capacity and poor focus on macro economic situation affecting livelihood and market development Mr Mahesh Kumar, from the National Commission on Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector, India presented on “Overview on national minimum social security for unorganized sector”. The presentation highlighted on proposed coverage for the informal workers. The proposed coverage covers health benefits, life insurance and old age security. The workers will be registered through unique identification social security number. Marc Socquet, Senior Specialist on Social Protection, Informal Economy and STEP, Asia Coordinator. from the ILO regional office in New Delhi presented the social protection for home based workers in South Asia. Presenting a regional perspective, Marc Socquet, highlighted the country best practices in the region like Bangladesh-maternity protection national voucher scheme and West Bengal Provident fund etc. Mr Socquet said that the way forward in extending social security to home-based workers is to highlight the principles of government’s responsibility, national solidarity and equity. Strong, committed and competent state is a first requirement and social dialogue with all stakeholders and coordination at all government levels is critical. A bottoms up approach is needed through community-based organizations: self-help groups, women’s associations, co-operative movements, trade unions to ensure the inclusion of the excluded groups in the design and managemennt process. He said that the need was of a combination of contributory and tax-financed financing mechanisms as well as efficient public-private partnerships with civil society

Vimo SEWA: Some Policy Recommendations

• Health Insurance is the top

priority of the poor (Since 1992, 17,879 women have obtained Rs. 2.5 crores by way of hospitalization. Overall claims total : 32,000 women received Rs. 6 crores). Linkage with hospitals, clinics is critical. • Microinsurance is

challenging in terms of viability —(Reasons: unregulated health sector, rising medical costs etc.) but possible. Education, constant contact is critical; builds systems, builds trust. • Implementation by local

organisations — unions, cooperatives, SHGs, mandals and NGOs is essential. Implementation must be as close to local people as possible, by local women preferably. • Promote coverage for

package of risks — at least life and health coverage together. • Enabling environment to

promote micro insurance — flexible regulations to encourage new, pro-poor initiatives. • Appropriate, affordable

products should be developed with insurers, POs and NGOs. • Reduce capital

requirement from Rs. 100 crores to Rs. 30 crores to enable development of insurance cooperatives by/for the poor.

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organizations, employers’ organizations and private sector. Ms Donna Donne, Sub regional Research Coordinator, Social Protection, HomeNet South East Asia made a presentation on the finding of a research on social security needs of the home based workers in the South East Asia region. The findings of the study highlighted the following issues – the relationship between economic security and social protection is a crucial one, particularly for home based workers, more so for the women workers because of their irregular earnings; often lack of access to education, information, land rights, and other assets; gender-related restrictions and designated responsibilities, etc. This makes them particularly vulnerable. As a beginning, women HBWs need to be recognized as “workers” and as “breadwinners” or (co-) “heads of households,” instead of assuming that they provide only “supplementary income.” Illness and a lack of sufficient work are the HBWs’ main concerns. Community-based schemes (e.g., funeral funds, mutual aid associations, etc are also extremely important to home based workers, but they do have limited means of helping them in times of crisis. She concluded by pointing out that social protection initiatives will need to take into account different needs and practices based on income/social status (position in the “hierarchy”), religion and indigenous community/cultural minority status, migrant status and whether home based workers organized into networks/unions. So given this diversity, and for many other reasons, ideally the approach to social protection needs to be “multi-layered,” including community-based initiatives, informal workers’ networks/organizations’ schemes (e.g., SEWA’s) and other local/state initiatives, together with national initiatives. Mittal Shah, Secretary, SEWA spoke about the SEWA insurance program, Vimo SEWA. She highlighted that the program runs on sound insurance principles. The proposed limits of coverage (sums insured) are modest and appropriate looking to SEWA's members. Insurance products are priced with a margin for reserves and contingencies. Management monitors claims loss ratio and other key indicators on a monthly basis. All policy provisions are modeled on the basis of policies that are in longstanding use by leading Indian insurance companies. Session V Voices Of Women In South Asia: Building Regional Networks

Dr Naila Kabeer, Visiting Scholar, IDRC highlighted how HBW are embedded in disadvantageous circumstances and need to organize and build a collective voice, which have to be heard by a range of actors in the development arena, especially the State. A collective voice is required to identify needs and claims of individuals and sub-groups and to support action to translate these needs and claims into appropriate policy frameworks. A vast majority of the working poor still remain

“..Just consider how terrible the day of your death is. Everyone talks and you cannot argue back…”- Raja Rammohan Roy “Gargi, do not question too much lest your head fall off.”- Sage Yajnavalka Dr Kabeer began her presentation with these two quotes to illustrate how joining one’s voice to the collective can shape public opinion and how some voices can be more powerful than others. Historically, women’s voices have been marginalized and although progress has occurred, it has been uneven across various population groups. One such group where more progress is required is that of Home Based Workers (HBW) who are situated in the informal economy and are by no means a homogenous group themselves.

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unorganized and outside the purview of trade unions that are restricted to workers in identifiable institutions such as factories and offices. The most important points related to organizing are,

• How does one overcome the barriers to organizing, such as in the case of HBW.

• How does one develop strength of collective voice, like Trade Unions with their sheer numbers and presence?

• How does one generate a sense of ownership within collective voice (in trade unions, the system of membership fees is one method).

Dr Kabeer opined that a greater degree of informalization with more work outside the ambit of trade unions has had a significant role in the emergence of newer forms of organizing. In these newer forms, she stressed the need to distinguish between organizations that are formed by the poor and those that work for the poor. First, savings in Self-Help Groups

(SHG’s) or SHG like formations has come to mean more than provision of financial services. • It provides exit options. • It provides collective bargaining. • It is an alternative to membership fees to build a sense of ownership. • It sets ups routines to build up solidarity.

Quite often these are built around women. This provides the potential to expand beyond an economistic focus to other aspects of workers lives. There is the possibility to link up to issues pertinent to women workers such as child care, taking up strategic interests etc; those not considered by typical trade or worker unions. Second, organizations do try and build up practical and strategic skills that are needed by poor individuals and groups to participate in public domains. These include but are not restricted to building an awareness of various public and legal systems and rules, and how to handle different sub-domains of public spaces. Action by organizations can be of two types,

1. In response to grievance of and threats to workers 2. Careful well-thought out moves in line with long-term strategies such as documentation,

research studies and findings. An instance of this is the HomeNet Mapping. Organized Action to bring about change needs to deal with upstream and downstream sets of issues. Moving upstream requires understanding policies as they are made, relating to policies as they are made and to influence policies as they are made. Moving downstream requires dealing with the practicalities and politics of implementation. Part of this is to building awareness and dissemination of information. Social Protection is both a pre-condition for and an outcome of Action. It is through mobilization that Voice becomes stronger and builds up confidence in workers. The latter is especially important for success is not always guaranteed and the momentum for action needs to be kept up. In this light, Dr Kabeer describes SEWA action as ‘strategic pragmatism’- strategic because the action is designed to bring about change and pragmatic because the action is well-thought out and designed realistically. In conclusion, Dr Kabeer commented on the ascribed identities around gender, caste and class. She stated that organizations that build voice are based around these identities. Sometimes, they cut across such identities to create a citizenship or an identity that is more horizontally placed. Country HomeNets made presentations on the experience of organizing home based workers. Ms Kala from Siyath Foundation pointed out that Siyath Foundation is the focal organization of HomeNet Sri Lanka. It is network working for sustainable development through socio economic

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empowerment for home based workers who are scattered in Sri Lanka. The objectives of HomeNet Sri Lanka are:

i) To make visible home based workers and their issues ii) To Advocate for national policies for home based workers in the country iii) Strengthening the economic stability of the women home based workers iv) Strengthening the grass root levels of home based workers and particularly the

membership based organizations of home based workers. v) Developing and strengthening the Net work of home based workers and different types

of organizations working for Home based workers.

Mr Om Thapilayal from HomeNet Nepal said that HomeNet Nepal is registered under Society Act 1977 in year 2002. It was the first among the HomeNet networks to be registered. Its executive committee has 9 members including Coordinator. The network is focusing on providing better services to the home based workers. With HomeNet Nepal there are 149 organisations and stakeholders with 16, 326 home based workers. The member organisations of HNN are TU, CBO, NGOs, Cooperative, Federation, association and direct home based workers. HomeNet Nepal has formed 237 Sectoral networking committee with 37 different works of home based workers. The major sectors are ethnic, herbal/food processing, bamboo work, handmade paper, metal work.

The network focuses on • Visibility of network and home based workers • Elimination of exploitation and discrimination • Ensure the dignity as a decent worker to home based workers • Occupational safety and health • Preservation of ethnic and traditional skill, art and occupation • Secure the patent rights of the herbs, raw materials and other plants they use

Ms Azhar from Home Net Pakistan highlighted that HomeNet Pakistan is registered under Societies Registration Act on November 2nd 2005. It is a network of organisations working for the recognition and labour rights of home-based workers. Aurat Foundation is the focal point of HomeNet Pakistan. Today, with HomeNet Pakistan there are 302 organisations with 75,000 home based workers. The executive committee of HNP is of 12 members from various organisations. The objective of the network is:

• organizing women home based workers • Collecting Statistics on women home based workers • Recognizing them as “workers” • Enhancing their productivity, quality of work, marketing skills and access to credit • Providing Social Security • Ratification of ILO C 177

HomeNet Pakistan is working in four provinces of Pakistan i.e. Punjaab, Sind, Northern frontier and Balochistan Mr Nawab said that HomeNet India is network organization of home based workers registered under Societies Act 1860 in year 2004. It has 33 organisations as HNI’s member with 90,000 home based workers. It is working in 13 states of the country with home based workers organizations. It has the executive committee of 15 members including one Coordinator. The objective of HomeNet India is to:

a) To organize, strengthen, develop and promote home based workers b) To promote home based workers issues c) To give recognition to the network and organisations of hbws

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d) To bring their voice at national level and raise their visibility e) To formulate national policy for home based workers

The member organisations of HomeNet India are from membership based organisations, NGOs, Association, Individual members and experts. HomeNet India is focusing on the advocating for Umbrella Legislation, national policy for home based workers and social security bill. Session VI National Policies on home based workers The session included group work where the country delegates brainstormed to develop a framework for the National policy on home based workers which were presented in the plenary on the 20th of January. All the countries in their presentations emphasized the need to advocate for national policy, ratification C 177 and social security for home based workers. Only the key objectives of each policy are listed. Detailed presentations are included in the annexure. A Drafting Committee was also set up for formulating the Regional Strategic Action Plan for the home based workers. The Conference approved the South Asia Platform of Action for Home based Workers. National Policy on home based workers: PAKISTAN

Objective of the policy–

To increase women’s incomes and economic viability

Secure social protection Lay the foundation for a

political framework through which women can articulate their concerns and demands

The components of the Policy will focus on minimum Protection which will include minimum remuneration, regulation of working conditions, skill development and literacy programmes and occupational health

and safety standards. The components of the Policy will further focus on Social Protection, since these women are included amongst the most deprived strata, they are unlikely to have any cover of social protection. Any laws in this regard will need to be made in consultation among employers, supporting NGOs and the Government and will need supervision and monitoring to ensure implementation. The components of the Policy will also focus on Collective Political Voice… National Policy on home based workers: NEPAL Objective of the policy In order to make the HBWs a productive, free from discrimination and exploitation and to make a healthy and competent to increase the national income and to ensure the basic minimum social protection to workers and thereby reducing the poverty amongst the HBWs. Specifically, the policy will seek to

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1.1.To identify and timely define the Home Works and Workers according to the interpretation of ILO. 1.2. To create the environment in which the HBWs can be organized and can formulate their networks. 1.3. Provision shall be made to enlist and up-date the data of HBWs in local level with the help of trade unions and local NGOs. 1.4 To collect the data on Home Works and Home Based Workers on the basis of gender by conducting periodic survey On the basis of the contribution extended by the HBWs into the national economy, volume of their production, market, services and revenue the Home Works shall be mainstreamed into the national economy by providing them sufficient and appropriate opportunities, space and representations. The policy will advocate for Equal wages for equal value of works in between men and women will be ensured by the tripartite and joint efforts of workers, employer and local body of government. The existing Acts and laws shall be reviewed, analyzed, amended and /or formulated in line with the concerned international instruments and all the stakeholders shall make responsible accordingly. The rights and welfare of the HBWs shall be ensured by optimally mobilizing the local, regional and national level of mechanisms of the government. In order to secure the social security of the HBWs, a Fund will be established and operated by tripartite efforts, cooperation and coordination by forming and promulgating Fund Operating Bi-laws by determining the minimum standard and priority.To carryout the different types of welfare programs on the basis of tri-partite dialogue. The required level of infrastructures for this shall be created, strengthened and effectively implemented and monitored. In order to make the work place free from violence especially free from violence against women, advocacy based activities shall be conducted especially within the Home Based Workers to make them aware on women’s Rights accordingly. For this, all the concerned shall be made responsible and involved. National Policies on home based workers: Sri lanka Objective of the policy

• To ensure the worker rights and protection of home based workers • To ensure equitable access and representation in trade • To ensure fair earnings for the product and services generated by HBW • To develop an integrated system which includes multi stake holder partnership in promoting home based workers. • To promote an integrated system of services provided by different State Bodies ( Ministries ,

Authorities , Boards ) • To upgrade the contribution of Home Based Workers in National Economy through

effective Policies National Policy on home based workers: BANGLADESH Objective of the policy (Long-term)

o Recognition of the home based workers, enlistment of the home based workers in National Statistics, categorization of the home based workers,

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o placing them within the reach of the Intl. labor standard and labor regarded prevailing laws in our country. o Consequently, ratification of ILO Convention 177, and thus ensuring the govt. and the proprietor

provided amenities for the home based workers through the formation and

implementation of apt legislations enacted on the basis of the aforesaid convention.

(Short-term) 1. Receiving the declaration from the govt. of the recognition of the home based workers who are surely classed as laborers according to the prevailing labor law of our country, along with the declaration of their workplaces to be the home based industry. Also receiving their deserved rights and law based amenities as laborers according to our customary labor law. 2. Determining and accepting apt rights and facilities of the home based workers those who are self-employed to home based affairs. 3. Those who have played their roles as micro investors for the home based workers and in line with their own works, they have also employed more than 5 home based workers, marking them as employment creators and managing all the possible facilities for their better working conductibility. National Policy on home based workers: India Objective of the policy The overall objective of the policy would be to prepare a polcy to improve the working conditions of the home based workers, in order to make the HBWs free from all forms of discrimination and exploitation and to provide some measures of welfare and social security measures. COMPONENTS OF THE POLICY The policy could have three key components – • Minimum protection, which would include, minimum remuneration, insurance, childcare,

skill development and literacy programmes. • Access to market and economic resources including raw material, marketing infrastructure,

technology, credit and information. • Voice and governannace where organizations like SEWA and other forums for women’s

voice are recognized. The national policy needs to recognize to focus specially on women workers.

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The Regional Strategic Action plan6 was presented which spelled out the observations from deliberations on home based workers and their concerns.

a) With the opening of foreign and internal markets out-sourcing by companies has raised the no. of home based workers in South Asia.

b) Home based workers exist in all sectors of employment including manufacturing, services and agro based sectors.

c) The available evidence suggests that home based work is an important source of employment for economically disadvantaged women.

d) Their earnings are very low, lack of social security protection and their poor working condition

e) Lacking to direct access of market due to long value chains In order to promote the growth and prosperity of the South Asia region; a need arises to address poverty by focusing on the issues of women, work and poverty. Therefore, Committee suggested following:

A) The formulation of National policies on Home based workers, in consultation with all stakeholders, which would include Minimum protection, Social Protection, Access to market, voice and governance

B) Institutionalize the systematic collection of data on home based workers and their contribution to the national economies and promote and support the development of a SAARC Gender Data Base.

C) Using globalization and trade opportunities to build better and inclusive markets. D) Ratification of ILO C 177 (1996) on Home work E) Recognition of Home-based workers networks as representational bodies at the regional

level

6 Included in the Annexure

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Session VII Valedictory Session Speaking on this occasion, Ms Jyoti Macwan, General Secreatry, SEWA related SEWA’s experience of organizing home based workers, starting with the bidi workers and then other workers like the crafts and garment workers. She pointed out that SEWA had also been advocating for a national policy for the home based workers and had played an active role in the ratification of the ILO Convention.

Mr. B K Chaturvedi,

Cabinet Secretary,

Government of India, in his Valedictory Address, highlighted the key needs of the home based workers as up gradation of skills; microfinance: user friendly technology, marketing and social security. Mr Chaturvedi pointed out that numbers of home based workers have gone up in the region. Aspirations have arisen for decent wage. Wage structure needs to be modified and wages have to be increased. There is a need up grade the skills and more and more training needs to be given to home based workers. The trainings modules and trainings should be given in their own languages so that they can understand and use the training maximum. Microfinance is a critical need. There is a need to bring technology to increase the productivity and quality of home based workers. Better marketing facility is required for the home based workers. Social Security need have always existed. Recently, efforts have been made to provide social security for the home based workers. In India NCEUS has worked out the social security bill in most comprehensive manner. It has considered various security measures like accident coverage, health coverage.

After this session there was an official launching of HomeNet South Asia by Mr. Chaturvedi, Ms. Chandni Joshi and Ms. Renana Jhabvala and other members of Home Net South Asia.

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Lead Kindly light: Launch of Home Net South Asia

Homenet South Asia was formally launched by Indian Cabinet Secretary Shri B.K. Chaturvedi in a simple but poignant ceremony. Lighted candles and diyas and flowers were floated in urn full of water and a large number of colorful balloons were released. Members of HomeNet South Asia sang "We Shall Overcome" - in five languages, symbolizing both the commonality and the uniqueness of their struggle in the five countries of the region.