The international situation

Homeworkers’ ages range between 14 – 80 years, the majority being aged between 30-40 years, mostly married and have children. Children and family members of homeworkers frequently work to assist to complete the work or contribute to the family income.  Education levels are generally low with many women having low literacy rates.

Homeworkers generally carry the family financial responsibilities with many migrating to find work, and overseas Indigenous women face discrimination on numerous levels.  Workers either seek work through agents or directly to a factory or employer, while they have limited access to markets in the case of own account workers, many become dependent upon agents or intermediaries to find work.  Commonplace is income – patching, especially in rural areas, where seasonal work needs to be subsidized at other times.

The principal reason for doing homework is because economic conditions necessitate this kind of work so that women can support their family. Most homeworkers report some type of health condition as a result of their work (for example – backache, headaches, asthma, poor eyesight, effects of pesticides, dyes and in more extreme cases loss of limbs, miscarriages, deafness, electrocution, poisoning, respiratory problems and general lethargy and poor health).

The average working day is 10 hours but it is not unusual for homeworkers to work longer hours, at times around the clock, without sleep, to complete orders. Homeworkers report earning very low rates for their work, or even where they may earn more through selling direct the work is so irregular that the income they receive barely meet their basic needs.  Earnings are irregular and often as little as 1/5 to 1/3 of minimum wages in each country. Few homeworkers are members of a trade union, group or organisation, although, as indicated by organising initiatives undertaken with homeworkers, this trend can be reversed, with a majority of homeworkers joining some form of group, cooperative, organisation or union.

Common problems reported by homeworkers include, but are not limited to:

• very low payment by employers;
• no regular work;
• lack of good equipment, tools, threads etc.;
• difficulties in access or supply of raw materials;
• lack of training;
• feel isolated and alone; and,
• poor treatment by employers.

The above information comes from Homeworkers Worldwide (2004).

Homeworkers in Australia

The Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania has been involved in the FairWear campaign to end exploitation of Australian home and sweatshop workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industry for over ten years. Despite the maintenance of legislated safeguards in this area, the church continues to hear of abuses in this industry.

Over the past ten years the following state and federal inquiries have consistently found that homeworkers receive payment and conditions significantly lower than their award and statutory entitlements. These include:

• Productivity Commission (2003) Inquiry into assistance to the TCF industry 2005;
• Senate Economics Reference Committee Inquiry (1996) Outworkers in the Garment Industry;
• Industry Commission Inquiry (1997) The Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Industries;
• NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice (1998) Inquiry into Workplace Safety; and,
• Family and Community Development Committee (2002) Inquiry into the Conditions of Clothing Outworkers in Victoria.

The FairWear campaign (made up of Christian, women’s and worker organisations) has been successful in persuading some Australian manufacturers and retailers to sign the No Sweat Shop label (Homeworkers Code of Practice). Despite this, homeworkers interviewed for more recent research in 2007 by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (Ethical Threads) indicated that conditions had worsened in the last five years. A shortage of work had left them with very little bargaining power with contractors. One group said they were paid $2.50 for a detailed shirt which took one hour to sew. Another group said they were paid between $2 and $3 an hour. When asked about hours worked, most indicated that they often went weeks without a job but when the work was available they worked long hours.

In 2008 the Commonwealth Government decided to allocate $4 million over four years for the Homeworkers Code of Practice Committee that oversees the No Sweat Shop label. It is hoped that this large injection of funds will help change the buying habits of consumers so that clothing is not produced in sweat shops and is not made under unethical conditions in the homes of outworkers.

[Next section] [Home] [To take action on employment and justice go here]