In a ground-breaking development, Pakistan is setting a new standard for labour rights in South Asia through comprehensive legislation to protect and recognise homeworkers. While the implementation phase is yet to be realised, the recent work on the Homebased Workers Act in Sindh province (2018) has been followed by similar enactments in Punjab (2023), Baluchistan (2022), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2021). These legislative milestones establish vital frameworks to grant home-based workers the recognition they deserve and ensure equitable treatment under the law.

The significance of these legislative strides was thoroughly explored during a one-day dialogue held on September 26, 2023. This impactful event brought together home-based workers and contractors to discuss the implications of these transformative legal measures. Maheen Arif, Provincial Coordinator for HomeNet Pakistan, provided valuable insights into the potential of these laws to herald an era of formal recognition and fair treatment for the country’s diligent homeworkers.

The dialogue was attended by Brand representatives, contractors, CSOs and home-based workers to discuss the possible plans for ensuring the inclusion of HBWs in the garment and textile supply chains. HNP started the discussion with the due diligence process in Sindh as a “preventative mechanism” which requires businesses “to identify and assess potential or actual adverse impacts and to adopt policies and measures to cease, prevent, mitigate, monitor, communicate, address, remediate them, and account for how they address those impacts. This become an important aspect of the labour rights of home workers to ensure that brands take responsibility of the protection of women in the supply chains. When rights are respected, supply chains are more robust, reliable and resilient, as stressed by Babar Raza (Program Manager, HNP)

This promising policy environment has the potential to put Pakistan in a strong position as trade with the EU – and other OECD countries – increasingly becomes subject to business and human rights compliance standards. Following the ‘soft law’ launch of the United Nations Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights in 2011, countries across the world have set about developing legislative and regulatory measures that seek to promote and – in the case of France, for instance – embed human rights due diligence in supply chain management. European Parliament intends to arrive at mandatory human rights due diligence for all EU-based businesses, which would affect the South Asian countries, including Pakistan. A huge export of garments and textiles is reported in Pakistan. The recent research conducted shows that the goods are exported to UAE ( 57.5%) USA(53.8%), UK(56.3 %), Saudi Arabia (48.5 %)and other EU Countries (12.5%) which includes the work by informal workers in the home base sector, reported by Babar Raza.

Ex labour department and current program manager of ILO project, Gulfam Nabi, stressed on the importance of having unions in Sindh. As it will bring empowerment in the employment sector especially for Homebase workers.

The UNDP has collaboratively engaged with the federal government in the finalization process of the National Plan of Action on Business and Human Rights (2021-2026). This NAP serves as a pivotal strategy for overseeing businesses operating within supply chains, aligning with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP). The Government of the Sindh (GOS) is firmly dedicated to establishing and enforcing measures for mandatory due diligence, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity, encompassing even home workers. In this endeavour, UNDP works closely alongside the GOS to facilitate the development of comprehensive frameworks, fostering active involvement from civil society, textile associations, and the labor force.

Shakeela Asghari, a Trade Union Representative, brought attention to the dire human rights conditions faced by workers. She illuminated the ongoing economic challenges in the country, particularly how factory and homeworkers are bearing the brunt of fluctuating prices. Asghari voiced concerns regarding the enforcement of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions aimed at guaranteeing minimum wages, access to social security, and occupational health and safety. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP) as another essential framework that the government should adopt to safeguard human rights within businesses.

Perter Williams from Home Workers worldwide shared according to the EU resolution, “comprehensive transparency requirements” are “a crucial element of legislation on mandatory due diligence.” Transparency helps to “give suppliers and manufacturers better control and understanding of their supply chains and improve public confidence in production.” Further, there needs to be transparency across the chain, with visibility of all value chain actors. He presented a brief snapshot of the capacity development plan for suppliers, brands, contractors and hoe workers. Mr Williams highlighted the that the Orientation meeting on the Tool Kit – Finding Homeworkers – for brands and suppliers is as an opportunity for leading global brands, Pakistani industry, workers including HBWs and other relevant stakeholders to come together to chart a pathway towards value chains that support their most vulnerable workers.

HomeNet Pakistan under the Hidden worker’s project funded by European commission, HomeNet South Asia and Transform Trade with the support of PRGTTI intends to follow up on the sensitization around presence of home workers within supply chains and initiate dialogue between relevant stakeholders. It envisions that the dialogue would provide a platform to ensure collective actions to further ensure inclusion and protection of Home workers across supply chain.