Collaborative action for meaningful results: Addressing Violence against Home-based workers

Written by Nimish Raj Sharma

During the global ‘16 Days of Activism’, HomeNet South Asia (HNSA) hosted a regional webinar titled “Bridging Voices: Home-Based Worker Realities and Policy Pathways to End Violence.” The event brought together policymakers, activists, and home-based workers (HBWs) from across South Asia to confront a bitter but often overlooked reality: millions of women who sustain local economies remain unprotected and vulnerable to violence. Despite the economic contributions they make, most women HBWs continue to work in a legal and regulatory blind spot. The main message of the webinar was clear – violence against HBWs is not only a gender issue, but a governance and policy failure that demands urgent action.

When the home is the workplace

A central theme throughout the discussion was the dual nature of home-based work. For these women, the home is a workplace, and also, too often, the site of violence. Traditional labour laws are designed for offices or formal workplaces – not for private homes. Thus, the protection policies that exist do not apply to women who work from home.

• Speakers identified multiple forms of violence that HBWs face.
• Intimate partner violence, which limits women’s mobility and control over income.
• Economic violence, including confiscation of earnings, denial of access to financial services, and exploitative payment systems.
• Psychological and community-level violence, including stigma and harassment in patriarchal settings.
• Supply chain violence, such as delayed payments, unfair piece rates, unsafe production demands, and even coercive sexual advances.
• Digital violence, with more women selling goods online without adequate protection.

Research shared during the webinar showed that violence is both a cause and a result of economic inequality. When women experience violence, their ability to work and earn decreases. At the same time, low income and financial dependence can increase their vulnerability to abuse.

Sharing lived realities

The most powerful moments of the webinar came from home-based workers themselves.

Ms. Shanti Maharajan from Nepal spoke about organising women at the grassroots level, emphasising how collective action and training empower workers to stand up against violence, giving them strength and confidence.

From Pakistan, Ms. Shagufta, a skilled artisan from Lahore, shared her deeply personal story of surviving intimate partner violence. After leaving an abusive marriage, she rebuilt her livelihood through training received via the HomeNet network, producing eco-friendly goods and children’s products for online markets. Her story showed both the harsh reality many women face and the resilience they demonstrate in rebuilding their lives.

These testimonies reminded participants that behind every policy discussion are real women struggling for safety, income, and dignity.

Advocacy and legal reform

Encouragingly, the webinar highlighted concrete policy developments in the region.

In Pakistan, sustained advocacy over nearly a decade led to significant changes. The country became the first in South Asia to adopt comprehensive home-based worker policies across all four provinces. In 2022, protections were extended to HBWs under workplace harassment laws. The leadership of the National Commission on the Status of Women has been instrumental in pushing digital and financial inclusion initiatives and launching campaigns against technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Bangladesh marked a historic breakthrough by ratifying the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment. Known as ILO Convention 190, the convention broadens the definition of the workplace to include homes, public spaces, and transport facilities. Crucially, it recognises that domestic violence can affect employment and therefore constitutes a workplace issue. Bangladesh’s ratification, alongside other occupational safety conventions, signals regional leadership. However, speakers noted that passing the law is only the first step, and proper implementation and monitoring are equally important.

Another powerful legal tool discussed was the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Ratified by all South Asian countries, CEDAW obligates governments to eliminate discrimination in both public and private spheres. Although it does not explicitly name home-based workers, its provisions on equality in employment, dismantling harmful stereotypes, and access to economic life provide a strong legal basis for HBW protection. Advocates and home-based workers were encouraged to submit shadow reports and use CEDAW’s mechanisms to pressure governments for reforms and appropriate budget allocations for eliminating discrimination.

Community-level solutions

While laws and conventions are crucial, several speakers emphasised that real change must also happen at the community and family level.

Ms. Farida Khan of LIE Bangladesh described social dialogue initiatives aimed at strengthening relationships between workers and contractors, reducing inequality, and addressing gender-based violence in informal settings. The formation of the Home-Based Workers Rights Network and submission of draft policy proposals show how organised workers can shape national agendas.

From India, Ms. Viyakula Mary of SAVE India advocated for a family-centred approach. Her model brings fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, and in-laws into dialogue circles and behaviour change sessions. By involving men and boys, her approach seeks to change attitudes and build supportive households. As she pointed out, strengthening women strengthens the entire household.

Collaborations and commitments

A strong theme throughout the webinar was collaboration. Progress in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan was made possible by years of joint efforts between trade unions, women’s rights groups, worker networks, and policymakers.

The webinar concluded with a shared recognition that ending violence against home-based workers cannot remain peripheral. It must be embedded at the heart of labour reforms, social protection systems, urban policies, and digital governance frameworks. This includes better data collection, accessible complaint systems, stronger enforcement, and formal recognition of worker organisations.

Above all, the dialogue showed that policies built with workers’ voices at the centre are the most durable. Bridging ground realities with practical policy solutions is not optional — it is essential to ensuring that millions of women across South Asia can work safely, with dignity and equal rights.