Policy Work

Homeworkers Worldwide exists to support homeworkers claim their rights and improve their livelihoods, so it is essential that our work reflects the reality of homeworkers’ lives and their priorities for change.

This means grassroots work with local partners is vital, reaching out to homeworkers, documenting their lives and their work, supporting them in forming their own organisations, advocating for their rights and seeking solutions to the challenges they face.

However, to have wider impact and create change at scale we also need to carry out policy work, calling for governments and international bodies to strengthen laws and regulations and improve services for homeworkers, which can therefore reach many more workers than those with whom we and our local partners have direct contact.

For HWW, grassroots work and policy work reinforce each other. Grassroots research and organising helps homeworkers and HWW identify what needs to change and gives homeworkers the strength to demand their rights. Good policies from governments and international institutions can create a framework that strengthens the hand of local campaigns and organisations, and make it possible for homeworkers to be recognised as workers and to claim employment rights.  Institutions will only adopt policies that are beneficial to homeworkers however, if organisations such as HWW are able to advocate and articulate for homeworkers’ priorities. And those priorities are based on the research and organising work we carry out through our partners with homeworkers at the grassroots.

Legislative and policy changes can also strengthen our work with brands and companies seeking to improve their practices. Positive labour rights policies create a level playing field. Without legally binding rules it is too easy for unscrupulous companies to undercut those companies that want to improve conditions and treat homeworkers fairly.