Home-Based Women Worker's Federation

HBWWF
Home-Based Women Worker's Federation
Founded2009
Location
Members4,500
Key people
Zehra Khan, General Secretary
AffiliationsWFTU, IndustriALL Global Union Clean Cloth Campaign, Home Net International
Websitehbwwf.org

The Home-Based Women Worker's Federation (HBWWF) is a trade union federation of home-based female workers in Pakistan. It is the first-ever all-women-run trade union for informal workers in the country.[1][2] The Federations focus is on addressing class struggles and the economic exploitation of workers.[3]

In December 2009, HBWWF was officially registered with the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC) following the registration of three unions in the embroidery and glass bangle industries.[4] Federation members are involved in various sectors, including textile and garment manufacturing, shoemaking, toy and sports goods production, glass bangle making, traditional embroidery, zardozi, stitching, cropping, jewellery making, ralli work, hanger making, auto parts manufacturing, and agriculture.

HBWWF is working on four levels:

  • Awareness raising on the issues
  • Unionisation/organisation
  • Legislation for home-based women workers
  • Skill and capacity building training

History

In 2005, study circles were established in various places including Karachi, Hyderabad, Hub, and Quetta to address the challenges faced by informal female workers. In 2006, cooperatives were established in Karachi for garment, textile, and embroidery workers, and in Hyderabad for glass bangle workers. By September 2009, unions had been established in the traditional embroidery sectors.[5] By November 2009, workers, particularly in the glass bangle industry, began organizing more effectively.[6] On 30 December 2009, the Home-Based Women Workers Federation was established, with Zehra Akbar Kahn becoming its inaugural secretary-general.[7][8] By 2016, the Federation registered its fourth union of home-based women workers garment and textile workers with the Labour Department in Karachi.

In May 2018, a significant milestone for labor rights was achieved with the enactment of the Home-Based Workers Act in Sindh.[9][10][11] This act officially recognized home-based workers as part of the province's labor force, enabling the imposition of responsibilities on contractors and providing protections for those involved in home-based industries.[12][13][14][15] Sindh became therefore the first region in South Asia to implement legal protections for home-based workers.[16][17]

Organisation & affiliates

The federation organises meetings for awareness and also trainings in skills like Henna art, embroidery etc.[18][19] Study circles often involve discussions on social and economic issues as well as laws for citizens. The Federation also working for the access of home-based women workers with the old age benefits and worker welfare programs.[20]

HBWWF itself if affiliated with many organizations at the local and international levels. Internationally, it is affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions, the IndustriALL Global Union.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Invisible no more: Sindh all set to adopt a policy for home-based workers". The Express Tribune. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ "PROFILE: Fighting Forward: Home-based women workers organize in Pakistan". IndustriALL. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Pakistan's International Women's Day march: Inclusive or exclusive?". South Asia@LSE. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Women that show the way. A conversation with Zehra Akbar Khan of the HBWWF, Pakistan". ∫connessioni (in Italian). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Sindh.Home Based Women Workers Federation Archives". Pakistan Press International. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Women that show the way. A conversation with Zehra Akbar Khan of the HBWWF, Pakistan". ∫connessioni (in Italian). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ^ "NTUF Pakistan: demos and rallies for the WDDW". www.ituc-csi.org. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Speakers want labour rights for 5 million women workers in Sindh". AP-IRNet. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Unions hail Pakistan home worker protection law". www.just-style.com. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Workers bodies demand implementation of labour laws in construction sector". The Biz Update. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  11. ^ "'Moving mountains': How Pakistan's 'invisible' women won workers' rights". the Guardian. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (17 January 2017). "New Sindh policy on home-based workers lauded". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  13. ^ "HBWWF Demands Practical Implementation Of Sindh Home-based Worker Act". UrduPoint. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Sindh working on implementation of Home-based Workers Act | Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Call for early registration of home-based workers". The Nation. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  16. ^ "HBWWF, Sindh labour department sign MoU with HBWWF to register home-based workers". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  17. ^ NTGent (8 June 2020). "School of Resistance: Distributing Dignity". NTGent. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  18. ^ "International Women's Day: Women workers announce rally in Karachi". MM News TV. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  19. ^ Yaseen (29 October 2019). "Workers urged to get organized to end precarious work". National Trade Union Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  20. ^ pakobserver. "home based federation".
  21. ^ Clean Cloth Campaign, Home Net International "Affiliations". HBWWF. Retrieved 13 March 2021.