Presented at Workshop on Social Protection in Asia, May 14-17, 2006, Bangkok.

1. SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR HOME BASED WORKERSFindings and Implications from Action ResearchHOMENET SOUTH ASIA and INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL STUDIES TRUST Presented at Workshop on Social Protection in Asia, May 14-17, 2006, Bangkok.

2. Objectives and Methodology of the study

3. Research Focus • Types of risks faced • Sources/causes of vulnerability • Formal and informal coping strategies usually used • Needs and social protection priorities of HBW

4. Other Research Concerns • Situation of home based workers in the changing economic scenario • Given a choice would women prefer to remain HBW or work in manufacturing units? What are the perceived advantages/disadvantages? • Are any categories of HBW being left out – such as frequent migrants, nomads, ethnic groups, poorest, etc.

5. For comparability across countries, garments and weaving were chosen as the common sectors (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal) The third sector was selected so as to include the poorest home based workers Bangladesh – (1) Pottery makers (2) Pearl and Shell collectors India – Agarbatti rollers Nepal – Handmade paper workers Pakistan – Pottery makers Sri Lanka– Coir workers Sectors chosen for study

6. Characteristics of the sample • Geographical areas and coverage of urban, peri-urban and rural based HBW • 10% of sample should comprise men • Both own-account and sub-contracted HBW • Position of workers within the production line • Socio-economic, age and ethnic differences

7. Research Techniques The study is based on both on qualitative as well as quantitative aspects; and on secondary sources Round 1 – Qualitative methods : FGDs and in-depth Interviews Round 2 – Quantitative methods : Survey Round 3 – Case studies of ‘best practices’ : Schemes, programmes and policies- both governmental and non-governmental

8. PARTICULARS • Strength of study is in its identification of insecurities from the perspective of the worker • Not representative of national picture

9. Respondents by sector per country

10. Approaches to Social protection in South Asia • Two pronged approach – social security for organised sector workers and social welfare/ poverty alleviation programmes for vulnerable groups – efforts to extend outreach • Lack of norms or framework for appropriate interventions for informal workers

11. Key findings • Economic Insecurities • Social Insecurities • Contextualising insecurities • Elements of a framework for social protection

13. WORK AND EARNINGS • Majority of the sample across sectors in India, Bangladesh and Nepal expressed stagnancy of work and earning opportunities • In Bangladesh and Pakistan, majority of garment workers stated that they felt an increase in work and earnings • Where increases were experienced in other sectors, these were marginal.

14. Changes in availability of work in last two years (%)

15. Change in earning in last two year Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan

16. GARMENTS

18. WEAVING

19. Weaving

21. Social insecurities • Housing and habitat • Occupational health – and beyond

22. PERPETUATING POVERTYAND VULNERABILITY • Child care, child labour and Education • Especially for girl child

23. WorkPrior to Age 15 90 82 80 72 72 68 70 63 61 58 60 54 50 42 42 Percentage 40 30 22 22 20 11 9 9 10 5 2 0 0 0 Batik Reed Shell/ Pearl Mat making Pottery Pottery I Weaving Weaving Weaving Weaving Pottery II Agarbatti paper Garments Garments Garments Garments Jewellery Coir Yarn Handmade Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Country & Sector

24. Illiteracy 100 92 90 80 78 80 70 70 60 55 47 50 Percentage 40 38 40 32 26 26 26 30 24 16 19 20 15 10 5 0 0 0 Batik Reed Shell/ Pearl Mat making Pottery Pottery I Weaving Weaving Weaving Weaving Pottery II Agarbatti Garments Garments paper Garments Jewellery Garments Coir Yarn Handmade Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Country & Sector

25. HBW: levels of poverty: incomes as % of national per capita income (peak and lean seasons)

26. HBW: levels of poverty: incomes as % of national per capita income (peak and lean seasons)

27. HBW: levels of poverty: incomes as % of national per capita income (peak and lean seasons)

28. AVERAGE MONTHLY EARNINGS in US $

29. HETEROGENEITY Not based on work or sector but on location and national context • Within a sector, different groups have varying needs and economic hierarchies • Those from traditionally well off communities vs. backward • Proximity to market/demand and other facilities for education and healthcare

30. GLOBAL MARKET • Global context (economics/ politics) influence more HBW workers indirectly rather than directly: influence through increased export demand, competition from imports or new technology • National policies are currently not effectively mediating the influence of the global market context on HBW • Need capacity building for sectors to survive or clear alternatives • Feminization – women less likely to switch over to new occupations

31. SECTOR • Worker’s position in sectoral production chain invisible. (agarbatti) • Workers not part of any chain and involved in face to face relationship with local consumers (garments and weaving) • Workers unaware of larger chain possible or surrounding their work (pottery)

32. GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION • Handmade Paper sector benefits from location in Kathmandu valley • Pottery makers in Bangladesh and Pakistan faced the problem of mounting transportation costs due to distance from markets.

33. SOCIO ECONOMIC POSITION Weak production capacity reflects a compounding of vulnerabilities • Poor linkages with urban markets • Impossible to invest in new technology • Product diversification difficult • Cater to seasonal local demand • Low levels of literacy • Low health status • Isolated community groups

34. COLLECTIVE • Predominant employment based on community tradition (shell/pearl collectors, pottery, weaving) • Borrowings from relatives and neighbors emerges as the most significant crisis coping strategy. • Future course for collective needs to be taken on board for policy design.

35. PARTNERSHIPS • Many sources of socio- economic insecurity, hence need for multiple interventions • Implies multi-agency, multi-issue interventions • Implies many agencies working in a co-operative manner (facilitated by a shared conceptual framework)

36. Towards a framework • Social protection interventions to be in tune with anticipated development trajectory and approach to habitat (social insecurities linked to habitat, beyond work context) • Multi agency, multi issue interventions needed, implying partnerships and shared conceptual framework • Locale specific approaches indicated given heterogeneity within sectors • SP needs to address both immediate and longer term needs

37. Next Steps Developing an Approach to Social Protection for Home based Workers in South Asia

38. HomeNet South Asia • Membership – 428 Organizations and 1,47,000 HBW • Key Action Areas – • Organising and Networking of home based workers and their organisations. • Supporting development of policy frameworks and advocacy on key issues. • Developing a social protection programme for home based workers • Promoting fair trade practices and reaching markets

39. Home Net South Asia • Emerging Concerns - • Extreme Vulnerability of home based workers, especially women • Complete lack of social protection • Small successful interventions • Invisibility of Home based workers in policy dialogue

40. Proposed Program • Three components • POLICY • RESEARCH • ACTION Integrated and Regional Approach

41. Research and policy • Developing a conceptual framework for Social Protection for Social Protection for home based workers, with a minimum set of entitlements • Advocacy with multiple stakeholders • Repackaging research for advocacy • Clear articulation of proven social security interventions

42. Specific Interventions • Bangladesh • Research and advocacy on Occupational Health • Adopting the poorest of the poor sector Sri Lanka Including home based workers in national schemes for old age and health workers Nepal Policy for home based workers, micro insurance Pakistan Research for Advocacy India Contribute to the ongoing policy debates and initiatives on home based workers Advocacy with industry alliances

43. Specific Interventions • Home Net South Asia • Social Security Technical Support for Micro-insurance • Advocacy for ILO Convention and Policy on home based workers

44. THANK YOU