By: The Sewing and Garment Workers Federation (FECOSET— By its acronym in Spanish)The Argentine textile industry is going through a critical moment. After the national government recently decided to reduce import tariffs on clothing from 35% to 20%, thousands of garment workers now see their livelihood at risk. This massive market opening benefits large brands...
By: Sarbani Kattel, HNI Programme Coordinator In April 2025, HomeNet International (HNI) launched its first global study, "State of Homeworkers in Garment and Footwear Supply Chains," in Jakarta, Indonesia. This study was HNI’s first study to go beyond Asia, incorporating insights from countries in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. As part of the...
In a strategic effort to enhance market access for artisanal home-based workers, the national networks UWAMINTA in Tanzania and HomeNet Kenya have conducted comprehensive research on trade fairs and exhibitions. The research, both local and regional within East and Central Africa, play a vital role in providing artisans with opportunities to showcase and sell their...
Between February and April 2025, Ngalo Buwereza Organization (NBO-Uganda), a national network of home-based workers, conducted a series of training sessions across seven regions of Uganda, including Mgigi, Kayunga, Central, Western, Eastern, Wakiso, and Mukono. These training programs aimed to empower home-based workers with the knowledge and skills needed to establish and manage Savings and...
By: Richa Macsuedon, Senior Programme Coordinator for HomeNet South Asia A 30-year-old home-based worker (HBW) from the Jatrabari cluster in Dhaka, Laiju Akter has transformed her life and the lives of countless others through her unwavering determination and leadership. Laiju and her Early Experiences Starting as a ball press worker in the garment accessories industry, Laiju's early life...
By: Richa Macsuedon, Senior Programme Coordinator for HomeNet South AsiaThe Maldives faces significant risks from climate change. Powerful storms, unpredictable weather and fire disasters aren’t just environmental issues – they put homes, health and livelihoods at serious risk. For the country’s many home-based workers, these dangers are especially urgent, as they often go unseen and...
By: Richa Macsuedon, Senior Programme Coordinator for HomeNet South Asia Climate change may be a global concern, but its impact is deeply local, felt in the flood-prone backyards, overheated homes, and overcrowded neighbourhoods where home-based workers (HBWs) live and work. In response, HomeNet South Asia, along with Labour at Informal Economy (LIE), facilitated a three-day follow-up...
This report, the result of the joint efforts of the HomeNet International Gender Committee and its affiliates, offers a first global snapshot of the working conditions of over 1.5 million home-based workers in 30 countries. Through a rigorous survey collectively designed and implemented, we highlight violations of fundamental rights and the gender, class, and social...
This study was conducted at the initiative of affiliates of HomeNet International (HNI), to document the socio-economic conditions of homeworkers – the most marginalized among home-based workers – in the garment and footwear supply chains.
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When asked how many times she’s been arrested as an activist Patricia Coñoman Carrillo shrugs her shoulders. She’s never counted. It’s part of her work as a Chilean union activist and leader defending labour rights, particularly in the textile sector, for nearly 50 years. The hardship she has faced is hard to fathom. When she and...
