HOME BASED WORKERS

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The other major category of unorganised workers is Home Based Workers. Home Based Workers are those who are engaged in the production of goods or services for an employer or contractor in an arrangement whereby the work is carried out at the place of the workers’ own choice, often the workers own home. ILO has adopted convention No.177 for Home Based Workers.

The issues and problems of home based workers are more complicated, because of there being no direct master-servant or employer-employee relationship between him and the person or organisation for whom he works. The relationship being ambiguous and indefinite, he is often subjected to exploitation in various forms. In India, there is not even authentic data on home based workers. Official data sources such as census of India do not recognise these workers as an independent category but have included them in the broad category of those working in household industries. As such, home based workers are not visible in national statistics.

In India home based workers are mainly engaged in beedi rolling, garment making, aggarbatti making, gem cutting, preparation of food items like papad, pickle, etc., handloom, lace and chikan work etc. The beedi rolling industry alone which is family based, employs about 44 lakh workers out of which 90% are home based workers. The Government have enacted the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Condition of Employment) Act, 1966 and Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976. Under these legislations the conditions of service of these workers are regulated and a number of schemes for the welfare of beedi workers are being implemented. These include health, maternity benefits, group insurance, education, recreation, housing assistance etc.

With a view to provide legislative protection, welfare measures and social security to this large body of home based workers who have been hitherto neglected, Government proposes to formulate a National Policy on Home Based Workers. The elements that could go into the preparation of this document could, inter-alia, include survey of home based workers, provision of legislative protection, occupational health and safety, provision of social security, prevention of child labour and forced labour, access to training, provision of welfare measures etc.

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