Home Based Workers

Home-based work is a growing global phenomenon, with over 100 million people working from their homes. With the rise of complex global chains of production over the past half-century, home-based work has grown exponentially.  

The number of home-based workers is estimated to be around 50 million in the countries of South Asia. In Bangladesh, 71 percent of all women workers, compared to 20 percent of all male workers, are home-based. Home-based workers lack collective bargaining skills, occupational health and safety, and social protection but the economic problems faced by them are different. Home-based workers face the problem of exploitation, low wages, and a lack of secure contracts. In addition, they have to pay for many of the non-wage costs of production – costs of space and storage, utilities, and equipment. To improve their situation home-based workers, need the capacity to bargain. The self-employed lack access to local markets and face competition. To change their situation, home-based workers need better access to financial markets and better capacities to compete in product markets. BLF activities encompass all aspects of developmental work related to women homeworkers in our country.