HNEECA - HomeNet International

HomeNet Eastern Europe
and Central Asia

HomeNet Eastern Europe and Central Asia (HNEECA) is a regional organization representing 11 organisations from 8 countries. Formed in the early 2000s, HNEE&CA aims to enhance the visibility and legal status of home-based workers in the Balkan region. Advocating for legislative regulations, market access, and worker organization, HNEECA strives to improve the livelihoods and rights of home-based workers. With a focus on ratifying ILO Convention 177 and implementing recommendations on decent work in the informal economy, HNEECA continues its important work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

HomeNet

History of HNEECA

In the early 2000’s organisations focusing on the informal economy and home-based workers began to emerge in the Balkan region. To increase visibility and the legal status of home-based workers, representatives from organisations got together and drafted a declaration on building a HomeNet regional network. This declaration was adopted in March 2012 during the international conference “Building HomeNet Eastern Europe.”

The organisations declared their support to create a centre for informal economy workers, in particular for home-based workers, as part of the HomeNet Southeast Europe Network. The main objective was to achieve legal regulation of labour and social rights of home-based workers and all workers in the informal economy. To reach this objective, the organisations would fight for:

Ratification of ILO Convention 177
Implementation of the 2002 ILC “Recommendations and Conclusions Concerning Decent Work in the Informal Economy”
Increase publicity, visibility and validity of home-based workers, using the experience of WIEGO and GLI

In March 2013 HomeNet Eastern Europe was formally registered in Bulgaria, leadership was elected and a plan for the operation of the network was created. The long-term aim of the regional organisation was to enable home-based workers in Eastern Europe to improve their livelihoods, gain access to Social Protection and exercise their rights. The first HNEE Congress was held in June 2014, participants from its affiliate members from Albania, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine attended.

Between 2014 and 2019 three more organisations from Central Asia and one additional organisation from Eastern Europe joined, therefore, the organisation now calls itself HomeNet Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In September 2019, they held their second Congress, uniting 15 organisations. The main issues which unite representatives of the different organisations are the lack of legislative regulations, access to markets and organising home-based workers.

HNEECA Vision and Objectives:

fashion show at the 2nd Congress of HNEECA (authors and models)

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The member organizations of HNEECA are

TUSIW-Edinstvo - Bulgaria
Transport and Highway Workers TU of Georgia - Georgia
Women Creative Studios Association (AIDEMI) - Kyrgyzstan
Dora Dom - Macedonia
NGO Zlatne Ruke - Serbia
Haft Paikar - Tadjikstan
Bukhara Crafts Development Centre - Uzbekistan
Armenian Association of HomeWorkers - Armenia
TPK HomeNet 2016 - Bulgaria
Public Union (Ak Bairak) - Kyrgyzstan
KOOPERACIA "BTU-ANIMATION SERVICE - Bulgaria

Areas of Work:

According to the Statute of HNEECA:

Goals and means to achieve them (Article 7):

7.1. The main objective of the Association is extending the representativeness of the homeworkers’ organizations and protection of the labor and social rights and interests of the workers in the informal economy;
7.2. improving the situation of the home workers to achieve equality between them and other categories of paid workers, taking into account the specific characteristics of the home-based work and, where appropriate, to grant equal work conditions for the same type of work performed outside the enterprise;
7.3. supporting the development of the market principles in the process of the integration of member organizations in the European and the global market economy;
7.4. contributing to the security of the commercial turnover based on the principles of integrity, honest market behavior and respect for mutual interests;
7.5. boosting the economic cooperation with international organizations and foreign partners;

To achieve its goals, the Association performs the following activities (Article 8):

8.1.1. involving the home workers in the Association, clarifying to them their rights to join in and / or taking advantage of its activities according to international conventions, treaties and recommendations;
8.1.2. Holding events that help the home workers acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for more effective, higher paid and more competitive labor;
8.1.3. Cooperating with the social partners to regulate the labor of the home workers in line with the European standards;
8.1.4. Participating in constructive dialogue with government and civil institutions related to the homeworkers’ activities;
8.1.5. Working under programs for joint activities with other NGOs at national, regional and international levels;
8.1.6. Examining the competition conditions in the markets and the requirements for entering and adapting to them;
8.1.7. Assisting in organizing participation in trade fairs and exhibitions at national, regional and international levels;
8.1.8. Promoting the activities of the Association and disseminating information about its development and achievements;
8.1.9. Supporting the marketing and advertising activities of its members;
8.1.10. Maintaining a register of its members;
8.1.11. Organizing the publication, printing and distribution of periodicals, books, brochures and others, which the Association deems necessary to achieve its objectives;
8.1.12. Organizing protests and solidarity actions, including international strikes
8.2. Represents its members before: 8.2.1. the legislative, executive and local authorities in their own country;
8.2.2. international organizations;
8.2.3. NGOs and other organizations having similar objectives and activities with those of the Association.

Resources:

Declaration of Home-Based Workers, Sofia, Bulgaria; 20 June 2016 – HomeNet Eastern Europe Globa Conference 2015.pdf

Challenges and Experiences in organizing Home-Based Workers in Bulgaria – Spooner Organizing Home Based Workers Bulgaria WIEGO OB7.pdf

Using ilo mechanisms implement labour code homeworkers Bulgaria

Newsletter Covid 19

Report on the Implementation of Convention 177

HomeNet EECA Declaration

WIEGO Research paper on Bulgarian Homeworkers

Covid-19 and Violence Against Women

RESOLUTION №2 – Need for a comprehensive and common approach to the single marketCovid-19 and Violence Against Women

HNEECA Caravan of homeworkers in Central Asia

In 2019, home -based workers from six countries in Central Asia undertook a multi-stop “cara-van”, traveling to raise awareness of the cultural and economic contributions of home-based artisans in the region. This 48-minute video features interviews and information about how Central Asia’s home-based worker organizations are working as part of a global movement.

Violeta Zlateva

HomeNet Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Regional Coordinator|
Email: [email protected]

HNEECA Liaison Office

“Tzar Simeon”112 Str.
1202 Sofia, Bulgaria

Founded: 2013

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Contact:

Violeta Zlateva

Regional Coordinator

Email

[email protected]

Countries:

Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Serbia, Tadjikstan and Uzbekistan

Members:

11 organizations, representing over 55,000 home-based workers

Discover Our New Home-Based Workers Bazaar

HomeNet Eastern Europe
and Central Asia

HomeNet

History of HNEECA

HNEECA Vision and Objectives:

The member organizations of HNEECA are

Areas of Work:

Resources:

HNEECA Caravan of homeworkers in Central Asia

Violeta Zlateva

HNEECA Liaison Office

Founded: 2013

Facebook

Contact:

Violeta Zlateva

Email

Countries:

Members:

Resources:

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