In Media

About Women Home-Based Workers in South Asia

The unorganised, informal sector makes up a majority of the workforce in South Asia. And home-based workers (HBWs), particularly women,  form a vital part of informal economies in the region. By definition, home-based workers are a category of informal sector workers who carry out remunerative work from their own homes or adjacent grounds or premises.

It is estimated that there are over 67 million home-based workers in just four countries of South Asia alone. These include Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Millions remain in the shadows and go unaccounted for in national statistics.

Home-based work is very diverse. On one end, you can find home-based workers engaged in traditional industries like carpet weaving, basket making and embroidery. On the other, you will also find them in new-age industries like assembling micro-electronics or medical equipment.

A majority of HBWs are women. Their labour drives industry and economies while also keeping their families out of poverty. However, they are rarely recognised as workers and access to labour entitlements remain out of their reach.

For more information on home-based workers, log on here or contact us.

About HomeNet South Asia

HomeNet South Asia Trust (HNSA) is a regional network of home-based worker organisations spread across eight countries. These include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Founded in 2000, the Network, today, represents over 12,00,000 home-based workers across South Asia, 95% of these workers are women.

HNSA’s initiatives include building solidarity among home-based workers and their organisations while also increasing their visibility. It advocates for relevant policies and programmes and  aids in the creation of market linkages and decent work. As a regional network, HNSA builds platforms for knowledge exchange and learning among its members and develops their capacities while also implementing regional campaigns. For more information on HNSA’s work, log on here or contact us. (https://hnsa.org.in)

You can also find out more on HNSA’s social media handles - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Video Resources

We Are One - The Story of A Movement

Tracing South Asia's home-based workers' movement through the decades

Who Are Home-Based Workers? (English)

There are over 260 million home-based workers around the world and over 67 million of these reside in South Asia. In a fast-paced, globalised world, home-based workers - a majority of them women - have become integral to global and local economies. Yet, they remain invisible and unrecognised.

Who Are Home-Based Workers? (Nepali)

There are over 260 million home-based workers around the world and over 67 million of these reside in South Asia. In a fast-paced, globalised world, home-based workers - a majority of them women - have become integral to global and local economies. Yet, they remain invisible and unrecognised.

Homeworkers in Global Supply Chains

The fast fashion mantra rules the global garment industry - spurning supply chains that crisscross the globe. Homeworkers sit at the bottom of these supply chains, taking up a range of jobs that contribute significantly to the end product. However, they remain invisible and command little bargaining power.

Violence in The World of Home-Based Work

This short film unpacks the impact of violence on home-based workers and outlines the actions we can take to build a violence-free world.

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Voices from the Field: Blogs and Case Studies

From Agricultural Worker, to a Cafe owner -the long-lasting

From Agricultural Worker, to a Cafe owner -the long-lasting impact of Skill development trainings- in the Kathmandu Valley

It’s a Sunday morning during monsoons in Lalitpur, a settlement on the outskirts of Kathmandu City and Krishna Debi is preparing Chattamari, fondly called ‘Nepali Pizza’ for some customers who sought...

Keywords: Agriculture, Skill Development, Training
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Case Studies from Maldives

Case Studies from Maldives

Far away from Male, Gadhdhoo is a small island that’s known for its remarkable mat weaving tradition. Handcrafted largely by women, home-based workers from the Thundukuna community, the woven mats are...

Keywords: Male, Gadhdhoo, Maldives
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In Nepal, Women Entrepreneurs take on the Cardamom Business

In Nepal, Women Entrepreneurs take on the Cardamom Business

The imposing hills of Taplejung, a district in Eastern Nepal, are carpeted with large cardamom plantations. One of Nepal’s leading large cardamom producing districts, Taplejung contributes the world’s...

Keywords: Agriculture and Food, Competitiveness, Extractive Industries, Forests, Gender, Infrastructure & Public-Private Partnerships, Jobs & Development, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, Trade, Nepal, South Asia
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