PESHAWAR, Oct 27: The participants of a consultative meeting demanded of the government to ratify the convention of International Labour Organisation to ensure protection of the rights of home based workers in informal sector. They said that there were about 70 labour laws but the definition of home based workers did not fall in their purview.

“While draft of a legislation for the social protection of home based workers is being prepared, a policy has already been finalised and waiting for submission to the cabinet for approval,” Umm-i-Laila, executive director of Home Net Pakistan, told the meeting.

A consultative meeting was organised here on Wednesday jointly by Home Net Pakistan, Sungi Development Foundation and Aurat Foundation working, seeking legislation for recognition of home based workers as labourers.

“The recognition of their work as labour will help them come in the safety net to get the rights and benefits of labourer,” she added.

Ms Laila said that after completing a consultation process in 70 districts a draft of the policy was finalised. It is lying with the federal labour department and waiting to be sent to the cabinet.

“We have also started work on draft of legislation for the social protection of home based workers,” she added. She said that around 20 million people in the country were home based workers and out of them 12 million were women.

“This sector is not organised and so far there has been no legislation,” said Shabina Ayaz, resident director of Aurat Foundation in her opening remarks.

The low wages and harsh work environment posing threat to the health of home based workers were depicted in a short but moving documentary, which showed women and young girls working for as low as seven rupees or dozens of bangles decoration or incense sticks.

The participants demanded of the government to ratify ILO C 177 Convention to ensure protection of the rights of home based workers in informal sector.