From paper to practice: Translating home-based worker legislation for practical support

In the informal economy of Pakistan, home-based women workers have historically been excluded from labour protections, social security coverage, and minimum wage guarantees, despite contributing significantly to household incomes and local supply chains. For this reason, the enactment of the Punjab Home-Based Workers Act 2023 marked a historic milestone, as for the first time, home-based work was formally recognised as employment. It mandated written contracts, guaranteed protections, and opened pathways to social security through the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI). However, a critical gap persisted – the Act was only available in English, rendering it inaccessible to the grassroot-level workers it aimed to protect. 

Recognising this disconnect, Sungi Development Foundation launched a targeted legal literacy and unionisation initiative in Multan, aiming to transform the Act into a practical empowerment tool for marginalised workers. They helped translate the document into Urdu and Saraiki and simplified the content using clear language, visual cues, and examples for low-literacy audiences. Furthermore, they conducted community awareness sessions, where 201 home-based workers participated to discuss matters such as women’s financial autonomy and participation in household decision-making, the importance and power of labour unions, and the benefits available through PESSI. These initiatives helped enhance legal literacy, strengthen union linkages, and include marginalised groups in discussions. 

Overall, the Multan intervention demonstrated that closing the gap between legislation and lived reality requires translation, simplification, localisation, organisation, and sustained grassroots engagement. Only then can legislation evolve from a written promise into a tangible impact.