A brain storming session was organised by Aurat Foundation in collaboration with HomeNet Pakistan on the topic of "situation of home-based workers with reference to their legal rights", here on Thursday.
Misbah Tahir, Project Director HomeNet and Resident Director Aurat Foundation discussed various ways to address grievances being faced by home-based workers. 'With 30 percent of the country's population still unable to fulfill its minimum food requirements, another 20 percent barely able to meet their other basic needs, it is not surprising that these women continue to work under worst conditions.
If there is to be any substantive alleviation of poverty in the country, the livelihood conditions of home-based women workers, a major section of society, need to be changed drastically', she asserted.
Asad Rehman, Co-ordinator Legislative Watch Programme on the occasion called for registering home-based workers apart from providing them a platform. Such workers also need to be adequately reflected in statistics and recognised as workers in the labour laws of the country, thus making them eligible for social protection, he added. Other speakers called for evolving a national policy and a programme to address the issues confronted to women home workers'.