Proceedings of the Sixth ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting on

Transcription

RECEIVED
1 OSEP197
Proceedings of the
Internatonaj
Labour Office
110
BIBL
Sixth ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting on
Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworicers
Homeworkers in the Global Economy
(INT/95/MO8IDAN)
26 - 29 November 1996
Bangkok, Thailand
BIT
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Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
PART A:
1
SOCIAL PROTECTION ON HOME WORKERS
I.
Opening Ceremonies
3
11.
Plenary Sessions I and H
3
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
Thailand
Philippines
Indonesia
Field trips
Working group discussions
Plenary Session III
4
6
9
10
10
10
Conclusion
Closing Ceremony
PART B:
ENUMERATION OF HOME WORKERS IN NATIONAL
STA TIS TICS
ifi.
Introduction
13
Discussion
13
Conclusion
14
ANNEX 1
Workshop programmes
ANNEX 2
List of Participants
ANNEX 3
Opening Address
ANNEX 4
Country Reports
4.1
4.2
4.3
Thailand
Philippines
Indonesia
ANNEX 5
Workshop Output
ANNEX 6
Homeworkers: how can they be measured in household surveys?
Introduction
The Sixth Sub-regional Meeting on Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworkers was
held on 26-29 November 1996, within the framework of the global programme on "Homeworkers
in the Global Economy" supported by DANIDA. In Asia, three countries namely, Thailand, the
Philippines and Indonesia had been participating in this sub-regional component of the
programme in three phases. This project had been implemented by the Programme on Women's
Employment, the Development Policies Department of the International Labour Organization,
in collaboration with the Government Ministries, and employers', workers', homeworkers' and
other local organizations. The meeting was the last of a series of the subregional meetings held
under this project, which had been under implementation since the late eighties.
The meeting was a culmination of the achievements of the project, which had seen a sea
change in the level of awareness on the issues of home work, since the time of its initial
implementation, when they were little known and understood by the policy makers, social
partners, and even by the homeworkers themselves. Today, in all three countries, the
commitment and institutional framework or foundation to pursue the agenda on homework has
been established, despite with different degrees. The 1996 International Labour Conference
adopted a new International Labour Standard No. 177 on Home Work, which perhaps could not
have been achieved without the tireless efforts of various actors, including those involved in this
project.
The objectives of the meeting were two-fold, as follows:
to review and assess the past achievements under the project to-date, in order to
establish proper final phase-out and forward-looking plans for each participating
country, as well as at the sub-regional level; and
to discuss the institutionalization of data collection on home work within the
national statistics systems in the three countries (Thailand, Indonesia and the
Philippines).
The meeting was organized in two parts according to the above-mentioned objectives.
Part A focused on the review of past project achievements, and formulated and adopted plans for
follow-up by the various project counterparts, and Part B focused on discussions on the
integration of "home work" in the national statistical systems. The first part was attended by 47
people and the second by 14. The participants were composed of representatives from the
Labour and other relevant Ministries and bureaux, employers', workers', homeworkers', and
other grassroots level organizations, collaborating under the project to provide support to home
workers, as well as some representative home workers from the project.
Part A sessions involved presentations of the country reports on the implementation of
various activities, discussions, working groups and the adoption of recommendations for future
follow-up. Part B's deliberations included presentations of country pilot surveys on homeworkers
in the Philippines, Indonesia and Viet Nam, discussions as well as the adoption of
recommendations.
The success of the Sixth Sub-regional Meeting was owed to the Chief Technical Advisor,
Ms. Lucita Lazo who provided the overall technical guidance to the project and to the preparation
of the technical inputs to this final meeting of the project, together with the Programme on
Women's Employment, Development Policies Department in Geneva. Special thanks were also
due to Ms. Thanyapom Attawiparkpaisan who tirelessly worked to ensure all the timely logistics
of the workshop together with the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok.
2
Proceedings of the
Sixth ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting
on Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworkers
27-29 November 1996, Royal Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Opening Ceremonies
Mr. Pam Juntrapan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
of Thailand and Mr. Joseph E. Thurman, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO-ROAP delivered
the opening remarks (see Annex 3). Mr. Juntrapan welcomed the participants and wished them
a fruitful and pleasant stay in Bangkok. He cited the progress that Thailand has made during the
ILO-DANIDA project years. In particular he mentioned that homeworkers' protection is clearly
specified in the eight Economic and Social Plan for 1997 - 2001. The Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare has undertaken a study in three pilot provinces where many homeworkers exist,
namely,, Khon Kaen, Roi et and Mahasarakam. An office solely responsible for labour and the
informal sector has been established and a national level committee was formed to effectively
protect and promote the welfare of the informal sector.
Mr. Thurman noted the importance of homework for the ILO, especially with the passage
of the Convention on Home work in June 1996. He drew attention to some important lessons that
could be learned from the ILO-DANIDA project: 1) each country needs to establish a national
policy to take into account the specific characteristics of home work and the needs of
homeworkers; 2) networks of homeworkers are needed to provide information and support to the
workers concerned; and 3) there is a need to disseminate models and success stories showing
practical ways to improve the situation of homeworkers. He thanked the Government of
Denmark for supporting the ILO action on home work as well as the Government of Thailand
for their hospitality as host country for the meeting.
Ms. Lucita Lazo, project chief technical adviser, briefed the participants on administrative
arrangements and reminded the participants on the purpose of the meeting: 1) to share and
exchange experiences on action programmes for homeworkers, their impact and lessons learned;
2) to formulate actions to foster solidarity actions among homeworkers at national, regional and
interregional levels (i.e. identify issues and areas for solidarity action and formulate specific
actions to establish and/or consolidate linkages and 3) to identif follow up actions.
Plenary Sessions I and II
Mr. Thatchai Urasook chaired the first plenary session and Mr. Kamjom Nakchuen
chaired the second plenary session. Both of them are officials of the Thai Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare.
Mr. Urasook asked the participants to introduce themselves. Then, Ms. Lazo updated the
participants on the progress of the project in each country. Overall, the government and non3
government organizations have taken numerous practical actions. In Thailand, the Transport and
Export Service Trade Union (TESTU) has began to organize homeworkers making shoe uppers
in Ratburana. Employers have as yet not taken positive actions in the project countries. In
general, the practical actions have led to the homeworkers' visibility, socio-economic
improvements in homeworkers' lives and the development of their self-confidence and
capacities.
During two plenary sessions, presentations were made by each country in respect of
organizing, networking, lobbying and advocacy and economic empowerment and social
protection during the second plenary session. An enthusiastic exchange of experiences ensued
during the open forum.
Highlights of the presentations were as follows:
11.1
Thailand
Organizing in rural areas mainly addressed own account workers in the north, northeast
and central Thailand while in the urban municipalities of Bangkok, organizing was aimed at
homeworkers in subcontracting. Approaches to organizing consisted of introducing socioeconomic interventions, community based enterprises, gender development, social welfare
activities, introducing social security schemes and entrepreneurship skills development.
Impacts observed were: awareness has been raised, incomes increased, migration
decreased, cooperation between government and non-government organizations was enhanced,
women empowerment, development of self-reliance and group formation.
Partner organizations in Thailand consisted of the Ministries of Industry and Labour &
Social Welfare as well as the Transport and Export Service Trade Union (TESTTJ), the
Chiangmai HOMENET, Appropriate Technology Association, the Credit Union League of
Thailand, and the Justice & Peace Commission.
The homeworkers' groups and NGOs lobbied and advocated for changes in policies
pertinent to the informal sector. As a result, homeworkers have been considered and included in
the eight national development plan, industrial development, labour welfare and protection as
well as social welfare policies. These policies have integrated labour issues in the informal sector
into national policies, promoted community enterprises in rural areas, and extended some form
of protection to the homeworkers.
Networks have been formed in the north, northeast and Bangkok and a national network
is now in the process of consolidation. The network has enabled the homeworkers to exchange
experiences and expertise, promoted closer cooperation and has created a lobby group that could
advocate for policy changes. Some drawbacks in networking were the difficulty of identifying
common concerns, vague structures for coordination and lack of initial funding.
Khun Phanomwan discussed economic empowerment and social protection of
homeworkers in Thailand. Most partner NGOs included economic development as part of their
4
development work with homeworkers. With the ILO-DANIDA technical advice, they have added
the aspect of social insurance in such programmes. The concept of social security has been spread
to more NGOs through the effort of the Northeastern Network on Homeworkers. The Chiangmai
HOMENET and TESTU have registered as a credit union as their way of obtaining social
protection.
The campaign for social protection has addressed not only the homeworkers but the
broader group of the informal sector as well. Community enterprises havebeen encouraged as.
a way of obtaining social protection for homeworkers. Rural industrial promotion policy have
also been addressed toward homeworkers upon the initiative of the Department of Industrial
Promotion.
During the open forum, it was mentioned that the trade union is already sharing some
costs in the homeworkers' development programme. NGOs plan to share the costs as well. If
activities were to be increased, then there would be need to find other sources. The labour
ministry is requesting for budgetary support, beginning in January 1997. With the new cabinet,
the ministry needs to re-submit their proposed five-year plan and budgetary request of 60 million
baht. The officials are optimistic that this money could be obtained.
Each NGO has a self-sustaining economic programme. In respect of sustainability the
more crucial question is not only funding but also the continuing collaboration between GO and
NGOs.
Khun Suvitya noted that TESTU has some funds to help homeworkers and expressed his
urge that the Philippine group would help the Thai in developing their programmes.
The labour ministry representative, Khun Thatchai, stated that the homeworkers'
programme of Thailand started only a few years ago. They are now trying to get statistics from
the rural and urban areas, particularly in 5 neighboring provinces. Another mode of action
being attempted is the registration of homeworkers.
Panmai shared their experience in obtaining social insurance. In the beginning they had
difficulty grasping the notion of social insurance. Then they sought assistance from academics
and other experts who taught them how to set up and manage various insurance schemes. Panmai
recommends that the government participate in the welfare fund since the village women do not
have enough means to cover other contingencies like accident insurance. Homeworkers should
be covered since they contribute significantly to the economy.
For the past 10 years, their group had been doing natural dye weaving. There are 500
members in the group coming from 24 villages in 6 districts of Si Saket, Roi et and Surin. Each
member has to buy her own share to be a member of the group. There are saving coops. Each
member donates 6 - 10 percent of their sales profits. Two years ago, they had thought of having
their own social security programme. They have a funeral group; everyone contributed some
money for survivors' benefits; after 1994, they thought that if they limited the group to the 500
members, it would not be sustainable. The funeral scheme covered a lot of old people so the
funds could be quickly exhausted. Thus, the group registered as a small enterprise; most
5
members are homeworkers. After, they expanded to all the weaving groups in the northeastern
part of Thailand, now there are 900 members after a year.
Two percent of sales proceeds are pooled from the various members and then Panmai
matches the amount with another 2 percent. These funds make up their old age pension fund.
From the funeral scheme of 100 baht, they have expanded to the life insurance scheme, a group
life insurance, in which a member pays 900 baht per year. They would get 40,000 baht
survivor's benefits when they die.
11.2
Philippines
PATAMABA has recruited 5,800 homeworker-members covering 30 provinces in Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao. The PATAIMABA has raised awareness on home work and generated
funds for the organization. Through various consultations, meetings, fora, conferences and
workshops, both at the national and international levels.
Organizing was found to be an effective strategy for obtaining social protection.
Involvement of the homeworkers ensures their commitment. However, expansion and viability
of the homeworkers' organizations should be further intensified on an industry and geographical
basis. Homeworkers need to be further main streamed in government programmes and services.
Information and data base on homework need to be institutionalized.
A slide presentation on the current activities of PATAMABA was also presented.
During the open forum several questions were raised about PATAMABA's radio
programme as well as their plans for sustainability. How did PATAMABA spread its
membership nationwide? What was its involvement in the campaign for the elimination of child
labour.
PATAMABA has community-based organizers who recruit members in various parts of
the country and they actively seek the involvement of the local government units. They conduct
strategic planning workshops. They have created 13 committees to monitor and oversee the
implementation of their strategic plan. On child labour, they send child homeworkers to school
under a scholarship programme supported by the ILO.
How did PATAMABA establish priorities among its activities? PATAMABA holds
monthly meeting at local levels; quarterly meetings at regional level. Quarterly monitoring is
done by the project and education committee. For every 3 chapters formed, a municipal chapter
is formed, then for every 5 municipal chapters, a regional chapter is formed.
What does PATAMABA do in order to ensure sustainability? What are the funding
sources? Currently PATAMABA generates funds from various sources: monthly dues of
members; local chapters donate a certain percentage of their sales; 10 percent interest from the
loans of the chapters using the 3 million fund granted to them by the labour department. S elffinancing is believed to be possible in the long-term future. PATAMABA has ventured into its
6
group enterprise. With initial capital of 50,000 pesos for their bag making, they have been able
to generate 130,000 pesos earnings in 8 months.
Mechanisms for economic empowennent consisted mainly of education and training
courses and livelihood programmes undertaken by the PATAMABA as well as the Partnership
for Subsector Development. PATAMABA lobbied for the provision of social security protection
of homeworkers. The PATAMABA affiliated to the Coop-life Insurance Mutual Benefit Services
Association (CLIMBS) which provides death benefits to their members.
Department Order No.5 established in explicit terms the juridical relationship as well
as liabilities between and among the employer, the contractor, the subcontractor and the
homeworkers. It also provided for the registration of employers, contractors, and subcontractors
for purposes of better control.
Save the Children continue to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Partners for
Subsector Development, the association of rag makers or the retazo workers. The PSD has
increased its membership to 1,500. Under the PSD homeworkers have been able to increase the
income of the homeworkers largely by finding institutional markets for the rags.
It is important to adopt innovative strategies to expand homeworkers' access to and
outreach of support programmes and services. There is need to integrate and package the support
programmes and services including access to credit, training in entrepreneurship, business and
technical assistance, marketing aid, counseling and product design. There is increasing concern
over the humanization of work.
There is need to expand the number of communities participating in the PSD. PSD's
increasing liiiks with local government units are important in membership expansion, raw
material sourcing and marketing.
A specific agency in government should be designated andlor given mandate to
coordinate the network of services for homeworkers. Discussion and consultations on the ILO
Convention on Homework can proceed toward ratification.
Which employers have taken initiative to assist homeworkers? An example was given
of an employer helping homeworkers. For instance, Wendy's is going into homebased packaging
of french fries.
Radio stations in the Philippines seek the homeworkers' participation in their programme.
NGOs are invited to participate in the radio programmes. Invited guests are being paid for their
appearances in the radio and TV shows. Success stories have been published in print media and
have been dramatized in radio plays. However, media time is not prime time.
For homeworkers' coverage in social security system, the employer-employee
relationship has to be established. Department Order No. 5 specifies that the contractor is the
employer, this has not facilitated social security coverage. Pressures from organized labour and
the homeworkers have been brought to bear on the SSS to provide universal coverage.
7
Homeworkers can be enrolled in the SSS as self-employed. They pay 105 pesos for every 1000
peso base.
There is a Philippine Business for Social Progress in the Philippines, operated and
controlled by large companies in the Philippines. The private firms contribute 1 percent of their
profits for community activities.
Mr. Cedric Bagtas of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines informed the group that
they had began organizing informal sector in 1975 as long as they meet membership
requirements, 1000 members per association. Since 1987, organizing in the informal sector had
been incorporated into the TtJCP constitution.
The TUCP has used two approaches in organizing: by forming cooperatives of workers
in the informal sector arid by giving services like seed capital, capacity building, skills training.
Seven hundred and fifty coops in the informal sector based in the local unions have been formed.
There is an existing coop insurance or mutual benefit association in the Philippines:
CLIMBS, CISP, WIVIBA. These various associations plan to merge by early 1997 since they are
covering the same set of workers. Cheapest premiums are in WMBA because it is based on one
million members. Merger is currently in process.
There is a Workers' Fund, a private sector foundation, run by 3 unions FFW, Lakas ng
Manggagawa Labor Center and TUCP. It started with initial capital of 150,000 pesos and now
it has grown to 35 million pesos after 6 years. Money was raised through advocacy. Funds from
Workers' Organizations and Development Programmes (WODP) and the Office of the President.
It funds housing programmes, now 1,000 housing units in Luzon and plans are afoot to move into
Mindanao and Visayas later. The funds are also used for livelihood programmes and revolving
credit. The beneficiaries are cooperatives and the workers' fund is run professionally; members
of the board consist of two from the private sector and 9 from the trade union. The foundation
is trying to set up a network of consumer cooperatives, or a Workers' Mart.
TUCP and other organizations in the informal sector work together to obtain things they
would not get on their own such as for example, credit. By linking with the sources of funds, the
rules could be relaxed to enable easier access to such funds. Information on such funds could be
disseminated and workers could lobby for no collateral availment of such funds.
By mid 1997, the Homeworkers' Convention should be ratified. The workers should
lobby with the DOLE. A coalition of informal sector unions could be built and press for
ratification. The TUCP is also moving for the mitigation of child labour.
Ms. Otobe, ILO Geneva representative, sought clarification on the social reform agenda
(SRA). The latter was formed to cater to the disadvantaged. One of the flagship programmes is
workers' protection and welfare, with special focus on workers in the informal sector.
8
11.3
Indonesia
Actions on homeworkers have focussed mainly on the training of women workers in the
informal sector. Training modules have been completed and are now being used in training
NGOs engaged in development projects for workers in the informal sector, and on training
module on women workers in the putting out system. In October 1996, a working group
consisting of the Department of Manpower and NGO's friends of homebased workers has been
formed in order to push for the ratification of the homebased workers' convention. A national
steering conmiittee on social protection for women workers has been formed and is expected to
be institutionalized in due time.
The Indonesian Homeworkers Network or Himpunan Wanita Pekerja Rumahan
Indonesia was established in September 1996 and a parallel network of supporters to the
homeworkers, Friends ofHomeworkers, was organized.
The impact of field actions in respect of women empowerment is still unclear. Only YPP
and Save the Children have had a clear gender perspective in its actions for homeworkers.
Gender sensitivity needs to be enhanced. Also, grassroots organizing is difficult due to
differences in culture. Networking among NGOs was not easy since each NGO has its own
unique interest and vision as well as strength and weaknesses. The notions of participatory
approach, bottom up approach, gender sensitivity, and similar ideas remain to be grasped and
understood by the NGOs and partner organizations.
In the future, it is expected that there would be more guided training and extension
services for women workers in the informal sector, that the National Steering Committee for
Homeworkers' Social Protection would be activated and that social protection be actually
extended to the women vis a vis wages, health and safety, and social insurance. It was stressed
that women homeworkers are implicitly covered in Indonesian national policy.
How does culture affect homeworkers' organizing? Examples were given by Hesti
Wijaya on how employers in certain cultures insult and verbally abuse the homeworkers. As a
result homeworkers had to learn to be assertive and firmly bargain with their employers. In other
places, this does not happen. Hence, there cannot be one uniform intervention in all places of
Indonesia.
Are homeworkers considered employees? In general workers are not considered as proper
workers unlike those in the formal sector.
Source of funding for follow up actions is still uncertain. There are indications that
government would support the collection of national data on home work. There is a national
proposal for an action programme in Indonesia. Also, there are efforts to form the friends of
homeworkers and they could help in fund raising.
There are only 3 out of 27 provinces where homeworkers have been organized by the
NGOs. Indonesia is just beginning in grassroots organizing. The focus of actions is to build up
the bargaining capacity so that they could deal accordingly with their employers. The
9
homeworkers are being encouraged to demand a written contract in order to prevent arbitrary
changes in piece rates.
11.4
Field trips
The group was divided into two subgroups for the field trips in the morning of 28
November 1996. One group visited the garments homeworkers of Huaykwang and the other
group visited the shoemakers of Ratburana.
11.5
Working group discussions
Two small discussion groups were formed from the big plenary group. Ms. Lazo then
explained to the group the guidelines for the small group discussions and the expected outputs
from each of them. One group was asked to focus on what remains to be done at national and
regional levels while the second group was asked to focus on listing suggested guides for actions
to promote homeworkers' social protection.
III.
Plenary Session III
The small discussion groups presented their outputs during the plenary session. Group A
(refer to Annex 5) reported that at the government level, there is need to set up institutional
arrangements for homeworkers' social protection on a more permanent basis and that the
economic plans need to be translated into implementable terms in the form of laws, programmes,
projects and services. The group also recommended the establishment of a Regional Center for
the Promotion of the Social Protection of Homeworkers to be funded by the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASBAN), with the principal responsibility of promoting networking
and intertrading among homeworkers' associations in various countries.
On the part of employers, actions needed are: strengthening relationships between
employers and trade unions; employers-NGOs-trade unions; NGO assistance, with trade union
collaboration, to homeworkers in training, organizing, networking, lobbying and advocacy for
employers' support; public awareness raising programmes; research and development and
lobbying for national legislation and regional implementation of the 1LO Convention on Home
work.
NGO actions should include lobbying and advocacy for homework statistics and
ratification of the Convention, awareness raising, empowerment of homeworkers, organization
of friends of homeworkers, lobbying for a social security scheme for homeworkers, establish a
welfare fund and socio-economic assistance. The Friends of Homeworkers are making efforts
to raise funds.
Group B reported on grassroots actions needed to promote homeworkers' social
protection such as leadership training, strengthening homeworkers' networks, formation of
friends of homeworkers, institutionalize data base on homeworker, develop a directory of GOs
& NGOs providing social services, accreditation & legalization of homeworkers' organizations.
10
They also proposed several socio-economic actions such as product diversification, market
expansion, quality control, and others. For social protection, the group suggested that credit
unions be intensified and strengthened. Social funds could be set up, contracts could be
negotiated, and the like. For capacity building, suggestions were to improve awareness of labour
laws, gender and reproductive health, training on business and financial management,
organizational management, paralegal training, English language training, etc. In order to ensure
sustainability, the homeworker support groups should be strengthened, institutional buyers
should be found, and products be patented. It was noted that actions should be taken to promote
tripartite involvement in homeworkers' social protection.
IV.
Conclusion
On behalf of the group, Mr. Josefmo Tones, government representative of the
Philippines, presented a resolution:
That ILO sends a mission to draft a project document on the
establishment of a proposed Regional Center for the Promotion of
Homeworkers' Social Protection, possibly in April 1997;
That each country formulates its follow up five-year action programme
through their respective National Steering Committees by March 1997;
That a seventh regional meeting be held in May 1997 with the following
preliminary agenda: proposed project document for the homeworkers'
center and country specific follow up action programme and ILO support.
Indonesia was recommended as the host for the said meeting;
That ILO sustains its technical support for priority practical actions; and
That ILO assumes the responsibility of monitoring the follow up actions.
Ms. Otobe took note of the resolution and recognized the significance of the meeting's
proposal, in particular on the formulation of a project proposal on the establishment of Regional
Center for the Promotion of Social Protection. She also stated, however that the ILO support in
future will be subject to the availability of resources.
V.
Closing Ceremony
Closing remarks were made by Ms. Lazo and Ms. Otobe. Ms. Lazo expressed her thanks
to the partner organizations for their cooperation and support to the project throughout the project
years. She stated that the project objectives have essentially been met and that the challenge is
to keep the actions going even after project completion by December 1996.
Ms. Otobe observed substantial progress in the field actions since the Malang subregional
workshop in 1993. She stated the Southeast Asian programme was part of the ILO global
11
programme on homeworkers in the global economy and that ILO shall continue its support for
the homeworkers' programme even after the JLO-DANIDA project completion.
Certificates of appreciation and plaques of recognition were given to the partner
organizations in the three project countries. The institutionalization award was given to the Thai
Ministry of Labour & Social Welfare for their establishment of a homeworkers' unit and the
trade union advocacy award was given to the Transport and Export Service Trade Union. Save
the Children Jakarta & Manila received the marketing award while PATAMABA received the
networking award.
Mr. Prasong Rananand, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Social
Welfare of Thailand delivered the closing address. He congratulated everyone for their
involvement and thanked the ILO-DANEDA for cultivating awareness on homeworkers' issues
in thç project countries.
12
Proceedings of the Technical Meeting
on the Enumeration of Homeworkers in National Statistics
26 November 1996, Royal Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Introduction
In order to come up with concrete and specific recommendations on the definitions
and how to institutionalize the generation of homeworker statistics in national surveys, the
meeting was convened. The methodology and findings of the two pilot surveys on the
enumeration of statistics on homeworkers in Indonesia and the Philippines were discussed
during the meeting. Participants to the meeting consisted of statisticians and representatives
of the national statistics offices, labour ministries and national planning bodies in the project
countries, and a representative of ILO Geneva. (See Annex 2)
Dr. Abuzar Asra, currently on secondment to the Asian Development Bank, presented
the findings of the Indonesian pilot survey while Ms. Nelia Marquez presented the Philippine
pilot survey. Ms. Naoko Otobe presented the findings of the Vietiiam survey. Copies of the
paper prepared by Ms. Adriana Mata Greenwood, Bureau of Statistics, International Labour
Office were distributed.
Discussion
The group focused on the definition of home work as it was considered to be crucial in
the collection of data and statistics. A proposed definition was evolved taking into account the
definitions used in the Indonesian and Philippine survey as well as the defmitions provided for
in the ILO Convention on Home Work. Note was taken of the definitions of outwork in the
ISCE-93 as well as the UN System of National Accounts 1993 and efforts were taken to
reconcile these definitions. In the course of the discussion, issues were raised, namely:
Should homework statistics be limited to the manufacturing sector?
What reference period should used to take into account seasonality?
Are unpaid family workers to be considered as homeworkers?
How are subcontractors/subcontractees to be classified?
The proposed definition was reviewed once more and the group finally agreed on the
following:
13
Proposed Definition
Criteria
Measurement Criterion
receive work from work provider
works for/supply goods or services to an
employer
place of work
deliver work to work provider
usual place of work is not the office/factory
or the house/premises of the work provider
produces goods/services in accordance with
specifications of the work provider
works for pay
.
.
.
matenals are partially or entirely provided by
the work provider
has no employee but may have unpaid family
workers
An issue that remained to be unresolved is: are unpaidfamily members of a homeworker
who assist in the work to be considered as homeworkers?
III.
Conclusion
In conclusion, each country identified specific steps to be taken to push for the
institutionalization of the collection of statistics in their respective countries. In general, the issue
will be taken up at the national steering committee. In the case of Indonesia, Mr. Irawan of
BAPPENAS stated that the meeting proved to be enlightening for their own work as national
economic planners and pledged his support for future undertakings toward institutionalization.
However, the DBPNAKER must initiate the move toward institutionalization and coordinate
with BAPPENAS and the Biro Pusat Statistik in the institutionalization effort.
In the Philippines, the Department of Labour and Employment shall take the initiative
to propose to the Philippine Statistical Board the adoption of a resolution enjoining the National
Statistics Office to institutionalize collection of homeworker statistics in the Labor Force
Survey. In Thailand, the matter shall be taken up at the National Steering Committee.
The meeting closed at 5 p.m. Participants expressed hopes of undertaking follow up
actions in the future and reiterated their need for continuing collaboration with and support from
the ILO.
14
ANNEX 1
ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting on
Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworkers
27-29 November 1996
Royal Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
PROGRAMME
27 November 1996
08:00 - 09:00
Registration & Administrative Matters
09:00 - 10:00
Opening
Permanent Secretary, MOLSW
J. Thurman, Deputy Regional Director, ILO-ROAP
10:00- 10:15
Tea
10:15 - 11:00
Overview and CTA's Report
11:00 - 12:45
Plenary Session 1
Organising, Networking, Lobbying and Advocacy
Report on Achievements and Impact
Approaches & Strategies, Obstacles & Constraints
Actions & Needs for Capacity Building
Lessons Learned and Practical Guides
Plans for Sustainability and Prospects for the Future
12:45 - 13:30
Lunch & Bazaar
13:30- 15:30
Plenary Session2
Economic Empowerment and Social Insurance for Homeworkers
Report on Achievements and Impact
Approaches & Strategies, Obstacles & Constraints
Actions & Needs for Capacity Building
Lessons Learned and Practical Guides
Plans for Sustainability & Prospects for the Future
15:30-15:45
Tea
15:30 - 16:30
Continuation
18:30-20:30
Socials/Reception hosted by Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare of Thailand
Bazaar
Photo exhibit
28 November 1996
08:30 - 12:00
Field trip to Ratburana and Huay Kwang
10:00-10:30
Tea
12:00-13:00
Lunch
13:00 - 16:30
WORKSHOPS: Internal Evaluation
On Effective Approaches & Strategies vis a vis:
- Homeworkers' Empowerment
- Economic Uplifiment
On Capacity Building & Sustainability
On Tripartite Involvement and GO-NGO Partnerships
29 November 1996
08:30 - 10:00
Plenary Session: Workshop Reports
10:00 - 10:15
Tea
10:15 - 12:00
Continuation
Plans for Regional and International Networking
12:00 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 14:00
Conclusions
14:00 - 15:00
CLOSING CEREMONIES
Awards & Certificates
Closing Remarks
15:00
High tea hosted by ILO
* ** * *** *
Technical Meeting on
Enumeration of Homeworkers
in National Statistics
26 November 1996
Royal Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
PROGRAMME
08:00 - 08:30
Registration
08:30 - 09:00
Administrative Matters
09:00 - 10:30
Discussions on the Definition, Scope, Methodology
and in the Statistical Enumeration of Homeworkers
10:00-10:20
Tea
10:20 - 12:00
Discussions on Results and Field Experiences
12:00-13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 15:00
Discussions on Recommendations to Institutionalise
Data Collection on Homeworkers
15:00-15:15
Tea
15:15 - 16:00
Continuation
16:00-16:30
Wrapup
ANNEX 2
ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting on
Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworkers
27-29 November 1996, Royal Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
iNDONESIA
Government
Mr. Sugiarto
Ms. Sri Rahayu Dahian
DEPNAKER
Ministry of Manpower
Ji. Gatot Subroto Kay. 51
Jakarta Selatan 12950, Indonesia.
Non-Government
Dr. Hesti Wijaya, Director
Ms. Wahyu Anny Widayati, Project Coordinator
Yayasan Pengembangan Pedesaan (YPP)
Ji. Simpang Gajayanallo. 611 AB
Malang 65144, Indonesia.
Ms. Astrid Dionisio-Billah, Programme Coordinator
Save the Children
Ji. H. Rausin No. B 128
RTOO2RWOO1
Kel. Palmerah, Kec. Palmerah
Jakarta 11480, Indonesia.
Ms. Maria Yohanista
Bina Swadaya
P.O. Box 1456
Drs. Bambang Nooersetyo, Msi
University Merdeka Malang
Ji. Terusan Raya Dieng 62-64
Malang 65146, Indonesia.
Sister Maria Goretti, Assistant Director
Lembaga Daya Dharma
Ji. Katedral 5
Homeworkers
Mrs. Suminah
Romeworker of Bina Swadaya Yogyakarta
Ms. Siti Romlah
Homeworker of YPP
Employer
Ms. Sumartini Tjokrodimuljo
APINDO
Jalan Cikini 1/3-B
Jakarta 10330
Indonesia.
PHILIPPINES
Government
Mr. Josefino I. Torres
Director, Bureau of Rural Workers
Department of Labour and Employment
Intrainuros, Manila
Philippines.
Ms. Atty. Emilia Andres
Chief, Legal Consultation Division
Legal Service
Intramuros, Manila
Philippines.
Ms. Melinda Item
Office of the Secretary
Intramuros, Manila
Philippines.
2
Non-Government
Ms. Imelda Acosta
Ms. Juliana Canta
Ms. Maria de los Santos
Ms. Maria S. Nebla
Ms. Calixta Patacsil
Ms. Demetilla Jabilles
Ms. Evelyn R. Cruz
PATAMABA
No.44 Saleng Street
Veteran's Village, Project 7
Quezon City
Philippines.
Ms. Virginia Giray
Save the Children
P.O. Box 4448 MCPO Bldg.
Liwasang Bonifacio
Metro Manila, Philippines.
Trade Unions
Mr. Cedric Bagtas
Deputy General Secretary
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)
TUCP-PGEA Compound, Masaya cor Maharlika Sts.
1101 Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines.
Ms. Ma. Teresa B. Montejo
Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
FFW Bldg., 1943 Taft Avenue
Malate, Manila
Philippines.
Employer
Ms. Luchie Arguelles
ECOP's Committee on Women and Special Concerns
Employers Confederation of the Philippines
4th Floor, ECC Building
355 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Extn.
Makati City, Philippines.
3
ThAILAND
Government
Mr. Thatchai Urasook
Labour Expert
Office of Labour Expert
Department of Labour Protection and Welfare
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare
Bangkok.
Mr. Kamjorn Nakchuen
Director of Intemaitonal Labour Affairs Division
Bangkok.
Ms. Sirikarn Santithawat
Senior Labour Officer
Bangkok.
Ms. Prani Obhasanond
Director, Thai Handicraft Promotion Division
Ministry of Industry
Rama VI Road
Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Non-government
Ms. Phanomwan Yoodee
YMCA Sankhampaeng
111 Chiangmai.-Sankhampaeng Road
Soi Tephabutr
Sankhampaeng, Chiangmai
Thailand.
Ms. Nittaya Nualsiri
Coordinator Textile Technology
Regional Infonnation Service Centre for Southeast Asia
On Appropriate Technology (RISE-AT)
Institute for Science and Technology Research and Developmnt
Chiangmai University
Chiangmai, Thailand.
4
Ms. Rakawin Leechanavanichpan
Justice and Peace Commission of Thailand
2492 Soi Saen Suk
Prachasongkroh Road
Ms. Pattareepan Pongwat
Credit Union League of Thailand
56/2 Moo 3, Raniharnhaeng Road
Bungkum, Bangkapi
Ms. Poonsap Tulaphan
Project Manager
Appropriate Technology Association
452 Moo 8, Pattamanond Road
AniphurKasetwisai
Roi-et 45150, Thailand.
Ms. Suntaree Saeng-ging
Coordinator
Northeastern Handicraft and Women's Development Network
43 5/3 Nab Muang Road
Muang, Khon Kaen 40000
Thailand.
Homeworkers
Ms. Buppa Kongdham
Appropriate Technology Association
452 Moo 8, Pattamanond Road
Amphur Kasetwisai, Roi-et 45150, Thailand.
Ms. Anong Sanusant
Northeastern Handicraft and Women's Development Network
43 5/3 Nab Muang Road
Muang, Khon Kaen 40000
Thailand.
Ms. Duangduen Khamchai
Homeworker of YMCA
Ms. Chamnan Wichai
Homeworker of Radburana
Ms. Pan Wannaboriboon
Homeworker of Huaykwang
5
Trade Union
Mr. Suvitya Raviwongse
Labour Congress of Thailand
420/393-4 Tipawan
Theparak Road
Samutprakam 10270
Employer
Mr. Supot Thanma
Ms. Sopa On-O-Pas
Employers' Confederation of Thailand
947/156 Bangna-Trade Km. 3
Phrakanong
Observer
Mr. Ricarido Fillora
Save the Children
P.O. Box 4448 MCPO Bldg.
Liwasang Bonifacio
Metro Manila, Philippines.
ILO
Ms. Naoko Otobe
Development Policies Department
International Labour Organization
CH-121 1, Geneva 22
Switzerland.
Ms. Lucita Lazo
Chief Technical Adviser
ILO-DANIDA Project on Homeworkers in the Global Economy
International Labour Organization
P.O. Box 2-349, Rajdamnem, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Ms. Thanyapoirn Attawiparkpaisan
Administrative Secretary
International Labour Office
Bangkok.
6
Technical Meeting on Enumeration
of Homeworkers in National Statistics
26 November1996, Royal Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
INDONESIA
Mr. Sugiarto
DEPNAKER
Ministry of Manpower
31. Gatot Subroto Kay. 51
Jakarta Selatan 12950
Indonesia.
Mr. Sugiarto
Mr. Uzair Suhaimi
Dr. Abuzar Asra
Biro Pusat Statistik
Ji. Dr. Sutomo 8
Jakarta 10710
Indonesia.
Mr. Irawan Kadiman
Chief of Bureau of Economic Analysis and Statistics
BAPPENAS
Jakarta, Indonesia.
PHILIPPiNES
Mrs. Nelia Marquez
Ms. Rosalinda P. Bautista
National Statistic Office
P.O. Box 779
Manila, Philippines.
Mr. Manuel Laopao
Ms. Edith Rivera
Bureau of Labour and Employment Statistics
Intramuros, Manila
Philippines.
7
THAILAND
Mrs. Aroonwan Pengpanich
Department of Labour Protection and Social Welfare
Bangkok, Thailand.
Mr. Wilas Suwee
Social Statistics Division
National Statistical Office
Lam Luang Road
Bangkok, Thailand.
ILO
Ms. Naoko Otobe
Development Policies Department
CH-1211, Geneva 22
Switzerland.
Ms. Lucita Lazo
Chief Technical Adviser
ILO-DANIDA Project on Homeworkers in the Global Economy
P.O. Box 2-349
Raj damnern
Bangkok 10200.
Ms. Thanyaporn Attawiparkpaisan
Administrative Secretary
ILO Bangkok.
8
ANNEX 3
Opening Remarks
Mr. Pam Juntrapan
Permanent Secretary
Mr. Thurman
Distinguished Participants
Ladies and Gentlemen
This is an interesting occasion because it marks the official closing of an ILO project that
has been here in Thailand for sometime, eight, almost nine years I am told. Indeed, by my count,
this is long because it has outlasted four prime ministers of Thailand. When it started in 1988,
the prime minister was General Chatchai Choonhavan, then came Khun Anand Panyarachun,
then there was Khun Chuan Leekpai, then it was Khun Banham Silpaarcha, now we have
Genemi Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as our new Prime Minister. I must say that this project has been
durable, having sustained the transfer of power from one Thai prime minister to another. And
perhaps, like all good things, it must come to an end. Some people say that the measure of
success of development projects is when the developers effectively create a situation when they
are no longer needed. I hope this is the situation in the case of this project.
I think we all do realise the importance of the attitude of our incumbent policy makers
on issues such as home work. But the reality is that homeworkers can gain support and aid if the
policy makers view the necessity of it. With globalization and the World Trade Organisation,
we can no longer escape the phenomenon of home work. Many guess that this will increase in
the near future as the competition in the global market becomes more stiff.
Since 1986, our government has given attention to labour in informal sector. The two
responsible ministries are the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Labour and Social
Welfare. While Ministiy of Industry is responsible for formulating policy and measure for
industrial development, Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare is responsible for labour in informal sector. Its scope of responsibility is
extended to the labour in informal sector, starting with homeworkers in order to enable them to
obtain appropriate benefits and to help them from being exploited. In 1994, the Ministry of
Labour and Social Welfare organised adhoc team to study the problem and find out the solution
for protection and promotion of homeworkers in three pilot provinces where many homeworkers
exist: Khon K.aen, Roi-et and Mahasarakham. After this, an office responsible solely for labour
in the informal sector established and a national level committee shall also be formed to
effectively protect, develop and promote informal sector labours.
Protection and promotion of homeworkers is clearly specified in the 8th Economic and
Social Plan for the year 1997-200 1. The scope of protection will be extended to labour in
informal sector, particularly homeworkers, in the field of labour protection in general, health,
skill development, employment promotion. Furthermore, an organisation of homeworker will
be organised to take care of the homeworkers' interest through the collaboration of various
agencies in public sector, private sector and academics. The above mentioned effort will result
in the reduce gap between the rich and the poor and bring equality to all.
Homeworkers, though mostly women, also involve men. In Thailand, women's voices including those in the village - are now being heard. And they are becoming louder with the
years. Women used to be known as the Thai people's hind legs of the elephant. I think they are
now having their roles as equal as men in our society. The ILO projects, as well must haveS
helped our women move further in the social hierarchy. I believe that in your respective
countries women homeworkers are advancing further too.
The next few days would be an occasion for sharing how you approaching the task of
promoting homeworkers' social protection. I hope that you find the exchange an enriching and
fruitful one. Do work well during the meeting but work with fun and pleasure. We want you
to remember Bangkok as a pleasure where you can have fund while learning.
Thank you.
2
Opening Address
by
Mr. Joseph E. Thurman
Deputy Regional Director
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Pam Juntrapan, Permanent Secretary of
Labour and Social Welfare
Distinguished participants,
Colleagues and friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the 1LO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, it is a great pleasure for
me to address the opening of this important Subregional Meeting on Statistics and Social
Protection of Homeworkers. The Assistant Director-General responsible for ILO activities in
Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Mitsuko Horiuchi, asked me to make a special point of welcoming you
in her name. She would have liked to be here, but unfortunately her presence is required this
week in Geneva.
Home work is a topic that is very important to the ILO. It provides an income to many
thousands of workers, especially women. In many countries home work has become an essential
part of the chain of production in key industries, and it makes an especially large contribution
to exports. On the other hand, the nature of home work makes the protection of this workers
especially difficult, so that special measures are needed to ensure adequate wages and conditions
of work. These difficulties are compounded by the fact that such a large proportion of
homeworkers are women. The plight of women workers is often ignored on the grounds that
they are not the primary income earners in the family, or as part of negative social attitudes
towards women and work.
In reality, women contribute disproportionately to family
responsibilities and at the same time they must overcome additional barriers to their participation
in the labour force.
Just five months ago, the International Labour Conference adopted Convention No. 177
concerning home work. In doing this, it showed the international concern and support that home
work is attracting, and clarified the need for national policies and action.
For more than eight years the ILO, with funding from DANIDA, has been working to
improve the situation of homeworkers in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. This
ILO/DANIDA project has helped to raise awareness within governments, employers' and
workers' organizations and NGOs and to support policies and practical activities.
Several lessons from the project are worth special mention:
.
Firstly, each country needs to establish a national policy to take into account the specific
characteristics of home work and the needs of homeworkers. I am please to report that
a draft policy is already under consideration in Thailand and that a fund has been
established by the Department of Labour in the Philippines.
3
S
Secondly, networks of homeworkers are needed to provide both information and support
to the workers concerned. This has been a major project activity, and grassroots
activities have gradually led to HOMENET, and international network of homeworkers
with leadership from the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) of India. These
networks provide much more than moral support. In Indonesia and Thailand, for
example, they have helped to expand export markets for women's products.
Thirdly, there is a need to disseminate models and success stories showing practical way
to improve the situation of homeworkers. I understand that the industrial village model
developed among the pottery makers of Sukothai here in Thailand has been particularly
successful, and that similar steps are underway in Indonesia and the Philippines. I also
understand that an 'action guide' on best policy and best practice is in preparation to help
spread the lessons and multiply the gains from the project.
The fact that your meeting will discuss statistics on homeworkers is very welcome.
Adequate policies towards this important sector are more difficult to promote if the numbers of
homeworkers and their contribution to the national economy are poorly known.
This meeting is a part of the winding down of the ILO/DANIDA subregional project on
homeworkers. There are many achievements that can be listed. I would like to pay tribute to
the hard work of Lucy Lazo and all the many others who have contributed to the project's
success. At the same time, many of these achievements require further action if they are to
become sustainable and if they are to be spread to larger numbers of homeworkers in coming
years.
I urge you to use the opportunity afforded by this meeting to develop means of sustaining
your action. It will not be easy. In an increasingly global economy characterized by capital
mobility and fast-changing tastes and markets, home work is especially vulnerable. At the same
time, there is every reason to expect that the numbers of homeworkers will continue to grow as
part of the general trend towards subcontracting and contingent work. Your discussions can
therefore make an important contribution to the future of many workers.
I would like to thank the Royal Government of Denmark for the long-term support they
have provided to ILO action on home work. I would also like to thank the Royal Government
of Thailand for their hospitality in acting as host country for this meeting.
I wish you every success. Thank you for your attention.
4
Annex 4.1
Sixth ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting
on Action Programmes on Homeworkers
27-29 November, 1996, Bangkok, THAILAND
THAILAND COUNTRY REPORT
I. BACKGROUND
The ILO-DANIDA Subregional Project on Rural Women Workers in the
Putting Out System has been launched in Thailand since 1988. Their double
objective focuses on employment promotion and social protection as well as
initiating a wide range of activities including data collection, field action with
homeworkers' groups as well as advocacy and policy dialogue. The implementation
of the project will be completed at the end of 1996.
The subregional meeting of the ILO-DANIDA Subregional Project has been
periodically organized. The sixth subregional meeting will be a final meeting of the
project. The specific objectives of the meeting are:
to share and exchange experiences on action programs for homeworkrs,
their impact and lessons learned;
to formulate actions to foster solidarity actions among homeworkers at
national, regional and interregional levels;
to formulate specffic actions to establish and/or consolidate linkages; and
to identify follow up actions.
The actor organizations in Thailand consisted of the following:
Sector
Goverit merit
SubIEgn3
26111/1996
Practical Actions
Implementators
- Microenterprise Skills Training
and Marketing for Homebased
Silk Producers in Nakom
Ratchasima
- Textile Industry Division of
Department of Industiral
Promotion
- The Pottery Villagers of
Keeremas, Sukhothai
- Thai Handicraft Promotion
Division, Department of
Industrial Promotion
- Sirvey of Depressed Areas of
Thailand
- Ministry of Labour and Social
Welfare (former called Dept. of
Labour, Minishy of Jnteria)
- A seminar to on homeworkers
to raise awareness of
government officials of the
Ministry of Labour.
- Women and Child Labour
Division, Ministry of Labour
- Formation of a Task Force on
- Women and Child Labour
Homeworkers Protedion to
develop a policy for
homeworkers
- A pilot project to create social
protection scheme to
homeworkers
- A planning seminar on a policy
on Homeworkers Promotion
and Protection
Non-government
Division, Ministry of Labour
- Networking of Homeworkers - YMCA Chiangmai
in Chiangmai (1990-1996)
- A seminar to raise awareness
among the NGOs on the Issues
of Homeworkers (1993)
- A pilot project to assist
subcontracting labourers in
- Justice and Peace Commission
of Thailand
Bangkok (1994-1996)
- A seminar on Impact of Rural
Industrial Promotion Project
toward Subcontracting
Labourers (1996)
- A seminar on Empowerment of - NGO Coordinating Committee
Women in the Informal Sector
on Development (NGO-COD)
(1994)
- The community-based social
security initiatives in
northeastern region (1994-1995)
- The Network for Handicraft
and Women Development in
Northeast Region
- A project to raise awareness of
women homeworkers in credit
unions
- Women Development Division,
Credit Union League of
Thailand
Trade Unions
- The pilot project to assist
homeworkers in Rajboonrana
District of Bangkok (1994-1995)
- Transportation and Export
Service Trade Union FESTU)
Academe
- A study of eight selected
villages as preparation for the
practical action of YMCA
- Dr. Minsarn Kaosa-ard,
Chiangmai University
- A project to promote home- - The Small Business and
workers creativity and quality Handicraft Promotion Project
consciousness (1994-1995)
(SBHPP), UNTSERV, Chiangmai
- A Study of Homeworkeis in - Asst.Prof. Naruemon
Two Urban Poor Communities Nirathorn, Thainmasat
of Thailand
University
- A study of homeworkers as the - Asst.Prof. Paowana Bhatanasri,
fishnet makers in Khon Kaen
Thanimasat University
Subreii3
25/11/1996
2
II. REVIEW OF PRACTICAL ACTIONS
Governement Level: Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW)
Department of Labour Protection and Welfar (DOLPW)
Practical Actions
Impacts
Conducted a survey of 4 depressed areas of The Office of National Economic and Social
Thailand
Development hasinduded a policy and
workplan to assist homeworkers in the 8th
Organised a seminar on homeworkers to National Development Plan (1997-2001).
raise awareness of government officials of
MOLSW
The 5 year project on homeworkers' promotion and protection have been developed.
Formed a Task Force on Homeworkers
Protection. 8 meetings of the Task Force The National Steering Committee on
were done.
Homeworkers Promotion and Protection has
been formed and submitted for cabinet
Formuated a draft policy on Homeworkers approval.
Protection and Protection
A working group under DOLPW to look
Develop a planning workshop to review the after homeworkers' issues has been
policy and develop the measures and assigned.
workplan on homeworkers' promotion and
protection.
The establishment of a new division to be
responsible for industrial informal workers
Indusion of the homeworker workplan in has been proposed for cabinet approval.
the
8th
National
Sodo-econoniic
Development Plan (1997-2001).
2 sub-projects aiming at legal reform/
formulation in relation to safety and health
Submitted the formation of the NSC on and protection have been developed.
Homeworkers for cabinet approval.
A project to compile statistic of
Assigned a working group within the homeworkers has been developed.
DOLPW to look after homeworkers' issues.
A pilot project to explore the group
Develop a 5-year Project on homeworkers organising approach of homeworkers has
Promotion and Protection and subnuted for been developed.
budget approval from cabinet.
The campaigning program on soical
Proposed the establishment of a new protection for homeworkers has been
division to be response on homeworkers and created.
other informal industrial workers.
*
see the attached detail of the actions of
MOLSW
Subiegni
25/11/1996
3
Future Prospects
Lesson Learned
For developing country like Thailand, labourers Awareness raising among employers
induding homeworkers have mostly engaged in the organizations needs to be created.
informal economy. Employment opportunity is still
a priority. The sodal security seems to be less The recommendation no. 29 will be
important.
The
economic
security
promotion considered as a guideline for
program has been widerspread among many promoting and protection in
government agendes. The formulation of a
protection law for homeworkers is considered as the
ultimate outcome of the effort to build legal security
for them. The issue of homeworkers involved with
various factors; subcontracting system, global
Thailand.
Technical unit of ILO
to provide assistance for
homeworkers is needed.
impacts. More studies are required. The concret
needs of the homeworkers have involved various Implementation of the 5-year project
governmental framework. The appropriate approach as follow:
to protect and strengthen homeworkers needs to be
designed. The ultimate goal of MOLSW' s project on
- Set up a new division
homeworkers has aimed at providing equal
- Survey and compile statistic of
treatement of homeworkers and improve thefr
homeworkers
standard of living.
- Develop draft the protection law
that requires the following steps:
MOLSW has developed the policy and strategy to
study trip, study homeworkers'
promote and protect homeworkers as inicuded in
law, develop a draft, public
the 8th National Development Plan which involved
hearing, testing law enforcement,
with a number of tripartite parties and NGOs. The
monitoring.
effort has contributed to the ILO Convention on - Develop draft of safety and health
Homeworkers
law for homeworkers.
- Raising awareness to public, other
Employer's organizations have less involved in the
organisation involved, trade
effort to assist homeworkers, partly due to the
unions, and employers
undear perception on the issue of homeworkers.
organisations.
Subcontracting has been assumed as amajor cause of
homeworkers. More studies on characteristics and
impact of subcontracting system are required.
Technical assistance on statistic compiling, wage
standard of homeworkers including implication are
needed.
Subregni
25/11/1996
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW)
Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DOLPW)
Details of Practical Actions (1996 Activities)
DOLPW organized a planning workshop to review the policy and develop the workplan
on homeworkers' promotion and protection.
MOLSE/DOLPW has induded the homeworkers' promotion Sand protection plan within
the Social Security Development Section of the the 8th National Socio-economic
Development
MOLSW has proposed the Formation of the National Steering Committee (NSC)
onHomeworkers Promotion and Protection. The NSC will be chaired by Deputy Prime
Minister.
In relation to the outcome of the planning workshop, MOLSW/DOLPW has developed a
program to Promote and Protect Homeworkers consisting of policy, measures, and
action plan to assist homeworker. The main strategies/measures mdude:
- strengthen homeworkers' capacity (through education, skill training, group
organising, facilities providing);
- review and revise government mechanism (through legal reform/formulation,
disseminate information i.e. relevant law, social insurance, raise consciousness of
employers/ middleman, set up a special unit to look after the homeworkers'
issues);
- facilitate the operation by setting up a special unit to look after homeworkers,
compile statitics and conduct study on homeworkers, setting up the National
Steering Committee on Homeworkers.
DOLPW has set up a Working Group on Homeworkers' Promotion and Protection Lobe
a special unit under DOLPW to look after the homeworkers' issues. At the initial stage,
the working group consist of 4 personnels from related divisions; Labour Relation
Division, Technical Division, and Women and Child Division.
The Working Group on Homeworkers has developed the 5-Year(1997-2001) Project
on Homeworkers Promotion and Protection and subm.ited to the Ministry Cabinet for
budget approval. The Project aims at providing appropriate and equal treatment
regarding the protection, promotion, and uplifting standard of living of homeworkers.
The target group include homeworkers, subcontractors, middlemen/contractors, and
employers. The expected outcomes of the project are:
Survey and Statistic of homeworkers (completed in 1997).
Safety and Health Law for homeworkers (completed in 2000).
Homeworkers Protection Law (completed in 2001).
The 5-Year Project (1997-2001) consists of the following workplan.
Conduct a prelimary survey of homeworkers
Conduct a survey of the homework sources in Bangkok and Vicinity areas
Develop a pilot project to explore a direction to form homeworkers organization
in 4 provinces (Khon Kaen, Mabasarakam, Roi-et and Rajburi).
Technical meetings (2 meetings/year) to review, ,discuss and develop the
Homeworkers Protection Law
Technical meetings (1 meeting/year) to review, discuss and develop the
Safety and Health Law for Homeworkers
Campaigning program to raise awareness on the plight and social protection for
homeworkers (2 programs/year)
Subign1
25/11/1996
5
Total budget requested of the 5-Year Project is 4,600,000 baht (approximately
US$184,000).
Due to various mission in relation to homeworkers, the working group has proposed
the formulation of a new division to directly responsible for those tasks.
Subxegnl
25/11/199t5
6
Government Action: Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP)
Ministry of Industry
Impacts
Practical Actions
Strategy formulation aiming at creating a
Building the site of common facility
ceramic village in Keeremas.
Preparatory activities
Discussion with the Ceramic Committee
Dialogue with villagers
Negotiate with local offi dais for a site for a
common facility
Technical assistance throgh project appraisal
by ILO-DANIDA
Group formation
Training, product development, consultancy
and technology
Revolving finds
Orientation to credit unions
Technology transfer and skills enrichment to
at least 60 villagers
Improved quality of product, diversffied
designs. Reduced losses due to breakage.
Modernisation of the villagers' outlook and
increased interest.
Bargaining leverage gained.
Increase income.
Decreasing urban migration rate and social
problem.
Formation of the pottery producers group.
Awareness raising on social security concept
through credit union introduction.
Strong interesting of the private sector to
help the villagers.
Lesson Learned
Constraints in project implementationdue to
limited resources and political interventions.
Lobbying needed to be done to generate
necessary resources fromiboth local provincial
and central authorities and agencies.
Lack of communication infrastructure.
Group formation requires time to create
cohesion and consolidation among group
members. Teamwork building is also a
difficult step to created.
Future Prospects
More training programmes are planned for
the women homeworkers. The training
indude: management of a successful
pottery business, quality control,
upgrading skills in making bigger
products, awareness on savings and credit
schemes, introduction into pottery export,
and introduction to new techniques for
pottery decoration.
Advertising the village in order to promote
more tourists to visit the locale will be
created.
Resource generation could be done at local
and central levels.
Bureaucracy of government agency could
create negative impact to the project
implementation, particularly a project that
aims at building cooperation among various
sector.
Sumregnl
25/11/1996
7
NGOs Involvement: Chiangmai HOMENET
Practical Actions
Impacts
- Orgariisation and membership. In 1996, the
- Male involvement in homeworking
HOMENET consists of28 group 952 members
involving in 4 lies of production: cotton
weaving andready-niade cloth, bamboo weaving,
mulburry paper making, and food processing.
- Homeworkers' active involvement in
conuitunity affairs.
- Socio-economic assistance
Training
- Access to facilities
Training on small business
Market assistance
Credit
- Initiation of Social Protection Scheme
Formation of credit union grop
- Wider markets
- Economic upliftment
- Greater public awareness
- Integration of women issue in minority
group (Karin) in the north
- Networking and advocacy
- Network expansion
Formulation of Northern Craft Neiwork
Lesson Learned
Gender stereotypes can change; men can
change their role.
Networking could have been empowering
effect on the women homeworkers.
Homeworking can be the household's main
income.
Competition in the handicrafts industry is
very stiff.
Technology to upgrade the level of
production is a continuing need.
Iristitutionalisation and sustainability of
HOMENET through the credit union
cooperative require the gradual process.
Future Prospects
Socio-econornic assistnace is still needed to
be obtained to continue the campaign for
social protection of homeworkers.
Training on shop arrangement and product
packaging.
Technology to upgrade the level of
production is need for the cotton weavers.
Building the IIOMENET for long-term
sustainability through the formation of the
credit union, the consolidation of the
econmic undertakings, and the advocacy for
social protection will be the concrete further
steps.
- To ensure economic undertaking, the
collaboration NGO-GO is essential.
Submgll
25/11/1996
8
NGOs Involvement: Justice and Peace Commission of Thailand (J&P)
Practical Actions
Public awareness and policy advocacy
Public awareness through various media
Policy advocacy through participation in
the policy forum
Organising the subcontractors
Formation of the small working group
Networking of subcontractors
Information dissemination among
subcontractors
Socio-economic assistance
Consultative meetings
Safrty and health education
Impacts
The first initiated project that assists the smallscale producers or subcontractors and their
workers in urban area of Bangkok who have
been considered as part of labour in the
informal sector. Many organizations came to
visit the project.
Increasing awareness raising on the issue of
homeworkers and workers in the informal
sector.
Explore available soda! services
Policy advocacy through various policy dialgue
forum i.e. a seminar to brainstrom on the thrust
of 8th National Devlopment Plan, the Task
Force Committee meeting, a seminar to review
the National Social Welfare Plan.
Need assessment of the row-house
workers through surveys and
queshonafres
Access to non-formal education for row-house
workers. Homeworker in the area have applied
to the education program.
Linkage with Gos (MOLSW, DIP) or academic
to develop the activities to improve business
capability of small producers in garment
business.
A forum to raise awareness and build
consolidation of other NGOs on the issue of
subcontracting labourers in the informal has
been created. As the result, the NGOs working
on labour issues agree to initiate the project
with subcontracting labourers.
Raising awareness of the community service
center in the area for sustainabthty of the
project.
Sumxgn1
25/11/1996
9
Lesson Learned
Subcontractor
Formation of subcontractors is a difficult
task. Jt relates to the strengthening capacity
of small entrepreneurs. J&P's capacity to
undertake the task needs to be
strengthened. The study on strengthening
entrepreneurial skills of small producers in
industrial sector is required.
Subcontractor's workers
A success to assist the workers is to set up
the informal education program in the
community. Other workers including the
subcontractors have expressed their interest
to apply. However, it is still at initiate stage.
Some obstades i.e. too expensive application
fee, too high cost of learning materials, and
inappro5riate curriculum design are found.
NGOs
The project aims at building consolidation
among NGOs, particularly those who work
with labour issues. The need to build a
strong forum among these NGOs is
required. The financial support is still
required to further the task
Future Prospects
Access to social services
- Strengthen entrepreneurial skill of
subcontractors and group organising
- Improve the non-formal education for
row-house workers
Increasing public awareness raising and
policy advocacy
Various studied contributed to the project
undertaking will he conducted.
Policy advocacy through various policy
dialogue i.e. the NSC on Homeworkers
Promotion and Protection
An exchange forum among NGOs working
on labour issue with emphasis on industrial
labourers in the informal sector will be
continued.
The small workshop to assess impact and
review future actions of J&P's pilot project
will be organised.
Financial sources to continue the project will
be sourced.
Sumrcgnl
25/11/19%
10
NGOs Involvement: The Northeastern Handicraft and Women
Development Network (NE-HWDN)
Impacts
Practical Actions
Social security promotion
Revision of the death compensation scheme
Dissemination of social security concept as a
session in the assembly of NGOs
Small enterprise development
Organized a workshop on Community
Enterprise : Alternative Occupation of
Rural Women
Women development
Organized the Paralegal training on
Tambon Administration
Organized information seminar on the
outcomes of Beijing Women World
Conference
Established information unit on gender
development
Self-reliance Plan
Opened a shop in Khon Kaen province. The
earning will be contributed to the
network operation.
gender analysis on community
Using
been
has
development program
widerspread.
Income increasing from the community
enterprise activity.
The awreness on the need of social security
building at community level has been raised
among NGOs and community groups in
northeast region. The network has initiated
the cremation scheme since 1993. Up to
present, the number of members joined the
network has been increased. There are 800
people joined the program. The network
plan to create other schemes in the future.
Women empowerment forum has been
created. Women have been strenthened
capacity in many ways i.e. paralegal,
environment, local administration. They
participate more in the community
Building their
development activity.
confidence to practically interact with
women groups at regional level.
GO-NGO-private sector collaboration has
been developed.
Self-reliance plan of the network has been
developed.
Institutional framework of the network has
been build. Permanent office has been rent
and a full time staff has been recruited.
Development of a pilot project on
community enterprise through
subcontracting system with DIP. The
ideology is that creating the enterprise
through equity treatment with social security
security aspect.
Sumiegni
2511 1/1996
11.
Lesson Learned
The network has idendified social security
building program as an entry point to build
consolidation among NGOs and Pos in the
region.
Future Prospects
Promoting and disseminate the gender
analysis practice.
Promoting handicraft sector aiming at
indusion of these skill into existing
curriculum of academic institute.
Building institutional scheme of the death
benefit is a challenging effort of the network.
Exploring other alternative occupations for
It is also considered an innovative niission
that needs to be further developed. Technical women will be undertook.
assistance from relevant experts is! required.
Improving the institutional scheme of
A study to
cremation scheme needs to be further done.
A technical workshop/seminar to exchange
Improving economic security would pave
and review the scheme with local and/or
the way for social security building.
foreign experts is required.
Apart from increasing of income, community
Small enterprise capacity building including
enterprise promotion would also help to
market linkage will be a major task of the
create negotiation practice.
network.
Socio-economic and political empowerment
could be created through consolidation of
Women empowerment forum will be
network members at different levels:
continued with strong emphasis on creating
participation of women into the local
community and regional levels.
administration.
Women status could be raised through their
practice in decision making and education
Community enterprise aspect as a means to
delivery.
obtain economic security will be promoted.
Self-help program is necessary for long term
sustainability of the organization.
The supporting that appropriate and
responsive to the real need of women would
help to group development.
Sumzegnl
25/11/1996
12
Trade Unions : Transportation and Export Service Trade Union (TESTU)
Practical Actions
Compilation of the homeworkers' profile
(Preliminary information)
Orgarusing homeworkers
Homeworkers Newsletter production
Awareness raising, advocacy and
campaigning
Raising concern for homeworkers among
the academe
Joining the public forum
International meeting
Celebration of labour day
Awareness raising among labour unions
Impacts
It is an innovative effort to form the urban
industrial homeworkers group. It has been
acknowledge as a group of informal sector.
Many organizations induding mass media
made a visit to the group.
Credit union concept has been adopted. The
credit union group of Rajboonrana will be
formally opened in November 1997.
Gaining experience on community assistance
program from study visit to the NGO's field
project, TESTU is planning to develop
community soda! services to the
homeworkers.
The other types of labour in the informal
sector in the nearby area have expressed
Attended the ILO Conference on Convention their interest to form as a group.
on Homworkers in Geneva and acted as the
Publication on the story of homeworkers
lobbyist for the passage of the Convention.
has been written in the labour magazine.
Public awareness through publication
Lesson Learned
For trade unions, an effort to form a
community group is required technical
inputs and dose cooperation from the
expert organization.
A technical workshop to exchange
experiences of NGOs and trade unions
should be developed.
Awareness raising to other trade unions is a
/
need.
Form the group of other workers in the
informal sector would contribute to the
campaign for social protection of the
informal sector.
Future Prospects
Formation as Credit Union Cooperative of
homeworkers will be continued.
Close cooperation with J&P to develop the
assistance program to homeworkers will be
built.
Access to social insurance system of
homeworkers will be created.
Encourage other labour unions to form more
groups of informal labour in other
occupations would be undertaken.
Develop social security (i.e. cooperative) or
linkage to soda! services for homeworker
could be the entry point for group organising
of homeworkers.
Sumregnl
25/11/1996
13
NGOs Involvement: Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT)
Practical Actions
Impact
Women Development Program
Increasing of income
Small enterprise promotion
Strengthening women empowerment
Establishment of small enterprise unit in
CULT
Special loans for income generation
undertaking in the cooperative
Strengthen institutional capcity building
Meeting of the Women Committee
Annual general meetings
Introduction to credit union cooperatives
Information unit building
Self-reliance development plan
Eatablishment of the Women & Youth and
Business Cooperative Department and
development of 5-year women's programme.
Participation of women in the Board of
CULT has increased.
CUC has been recognised as a means to
access social security. Gos, NGOs, Labour
Unions and Bank have created linkage
program with CULT.
Development of self-reliance plan for
women program operation.
Compilation statistics on women
contribution to CULT has been undertaken.
Lesson Learned
The CULT's programmes could address the
global concerns on women empowerment,
economic security and social security for
community group.
The Women Department is still facing with
the problem of personnel shortage resulting
in drawback of the planned activities.
Social welfare schemes of CULT should be
strengthened through dose cooperation of
the experts. CULT is developing new
schemes of social welfare i.e. education.
However, technical inputs as well as big
amount of investment are needed.
Information and documentation on the work
of CULT would contribute to the growth of
the organisation. External expert is needed
to set up the system.
Future Prospects
The five year Women Development
Programme of CULT include: small
enterprise development, women's capacity
buildin& introduction of CUC, establishment
of Women Inforntation Center, and continue
to set up the self-help programmes.
In 1996, FES has provided financial support
to CULTs women programmes.
The orgartisation has developed a pilot
project with DIP to promote rural industry
through linkage of local crdit union
cooperative. CULT will play role as
facilitator between business company and
local CUC under the support of DIP such as
training or necessary facilities. The income
from project management would contribute
to the women program.
Suimegnl
26/11/1996
14
Academe Involvement: The Small Business on Handicraft Promotion Project
UNISERV, Chiangmai University
Practical Actions
Training
Impacts
SIf-help capability
Training needs assessment
Development of a training course
Implementation of TOT
(Marketing)
Product Development Consuliancy
Product assessment missions
Design clinic
Field visits
Training in sewing
Workshop on northern fabric and e
embroidery design
Development of new product lines
Market tests
Development of promotional tools
Ethnotex sales exhibition
Lesson Learned
Microenterprise Development
- There should be differentiation of
participants in the TOT course for those
who have conunitment and organizational
capacity.
- TOT course should be only an intial step
while other means such as consultancy on
process management to ensure effective
competence building at grassroots.
- The proper segmentation of the target goup
are necessary to match course and
participants appropriately.
- Cooperation among support agencies is a
must for effective producers programme
launching of local implementors.
Income development
Development of Microenterprise Training
Programme
Support Agencies : Capacity Building of a
Trainers Core Group
Rural Producers : Capacity
Building of Self-Employed and
Microentrepreneurs
Product development consultancy
Rural Self-Employed and Microentrepreneurs:
Capacity Building on Product Development
Future Prospects
SBHPP-UNISERV will be terminated in 1996.
NGOs which support the handicraft and
small business producer groups in upper
north of Thailand has decided to form
themseif as the Northern Craft Network in
June 1996. The network will focus its work
on enhancing the handicraft producer
groups to develop their own nucroenterprise
management skills. The activities include 1)
marketing support, 2) study tours, 3)
development of directory of members for
dissemination, 4) seminars, and 5) produce
and exchange raw materials. The contact
address is the RISE-AT, Chiangmai
University. The network members consist of
12 NGOs in the upper north of Thailand.
Product development consultancy for
specific industries should be offered along
with entrepreneurship trainings, supply of
information and capacity building.
Sumiegul
2511111996
15
III. Outcomes and Impact
In Thailand, the campaign on homeworkers and the informal sector has been
done under collaboration of all organizations involved: government, nongovernment organization, labour unions, and academe concerned. The policy for
homeworkers has been developed. The issue of informal sector is well aware and n
included in various relevant national policy i.e 8th National Devlopment Plan,
National Steering Committee on Women Development, National Social Welfare
Plan.
The national forum of homeworkers were attended by all parties concernes.
The regional forum of women in the north and northeast has included the issues of
homeworkers within their agenda. The intercommunication among these
organizations significantly contributed to the positive outcomes of the movement
on homeworkers and informal sector in the country.
Organising, Networking, Lobbying and Advocacy
Organising the hornezvorkers in the north
The Chiangmai HOMENET has been formed through the assistance of
YMCA Chiangmai. It consists of 28 women groups with 952 members altogether.
Their products include cotton weaving and ready-made clothes, bamboo weaving,
mulburry paper, and food processing. The HOMENET has formed themseif as a
credit union group. Loan fund and social welfare benefit are expected to obtain in
the future after applying as a cooperative.
The Small Business and Handicraft Promotion Project (SBHPP), UNISERV of
Chiangmai University created the project to improve handicraft product develop
ment to HOMENET and other NGOs and women groups in the north. A core trainer
group has been developed so as to provide training after completion of the SBHPP.
Twelve (12) NGOs and Women Groups joined the training program have agreed to
form themseif by the name of the Northern Craft Net-work under the auspice of the
Regional Information Service Center for Southeast Asia on Appropriate Technology
(RISE-AT) of Chiangmãi. It is expected to become a regional forum of homeworkers
in the future.
Organising industrial homeworkers in urban area of Bangkok
Two actor organisations; the Justice and Peace Commission of Thailand U&P)
and the Transportation and Export Service Trade Union have initiated the pilot
project to assist industrial subcontracting labourers in Bangkok. Their target groups
include different level of labourers in subcontracting line; those are subcontractors
and their workers in garment business and homeworkers working on shoe-stitching.
Their need for social protection is different.
TESTU is raising awareness to other labour unions so as to create wider
group of homeworkers. TESTU has also utilized mass media as a channel for public
awamess.
Subxgn
J.
26111/1996
16
J&P has developed the plan to build consolidation of other NGOs with
emphasis on NGOs working on labour right. The information seminars were
organized for these NGOs. As the result, they commit to develop the project with
subcontracting labourers beginning next year. The preliminary information of
certain subcontracting labourers has been complied by a number of NGOs, for
example, the Women Foundation, Arom Pongpangan Foundation.
Close coommunication and cooperation actions through information
exchange, study visit, and seminars participation between J&P and TESTU have
been created.
Labour Union's pilot effort to assist horneoworkers
TESTU's assistance program to homeworkers will be a model for replication
to other labour unions. Awareness raising to other labour unions so as to create
wider group of homeworkers is being done. TESTU has also utilized mass media as
a channel for public awarness. The marching on Labour Day Celebration has
included homeworkers as a special labour group of industrial sector.
Formulation of government mechanism and programme to assist homeworkers.
The outcomes of the practical actions in Thailand to assist homeworkers
under the governmental framework can be summarized as follow:
* The National Steering Committee on Homeworkers Promotion and
Protection has been formed. It consists of various organizations that would provide
social protection for homeworkers.
* Inclusion of the homeworkers into the 8th National Socio-economic
Development Plan (1997-2001) under the Social Scurity Section has been done. A
workplan to promote and protect homeworkers aiming improving standard of
living of homeworkers has been developed by the MOLPW.
* A special unit, namely the Working Group on Industrial Labourers in the
informal sector has been set up under the Department of Labour Protection and
Welfare (DOLPW).
* A new division under DOLPW to look after the informal labourers of
industrial sector has been proposed for cabinet approval.
* The 5-year Project on Homeworkers Promotion and Protection has been
developed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, awaiting for budget
approval.
* A pilot project of DIP to assist homeworkers, in rural village of Keremas
could be a model for replications to other governemt agencies.
Consolidation of non-governmental organisations
NGOs consolidate their efforts through the following actions:
Subzega
2Q11/19%
-
17
* A forum to consolidate the voice of homeworkers has been created by the
partner NGOs and TESTU/Trade Unions. It was originally planned to organized as
the annual seminar of homeworkers, due to financial constraint, 2 seminars were
organised.
The partner NGOs have committed to carry on the issue of homeworkers
and informal sector in their region.
* Mass media has been utilized among NGOs as a channel to reach public
awareness.
Economic Empowerment and Social Security for Homeworkers
Economic uplftment through market linkage and product improvement
Most of the partner NGOs include the economic development program as
the mainstream of their work. HOMENET has joined more wider forum of the
Northern Craft Network. NE-HWD Network expands its members in the northeast
region. CULT 's women programme have been acknowledged and accepted in
public. J&P has begun the action to strengthen small business capacity for the small
producers in urban area. Even the labour unions such as TESTU has also intiated the
formation of credit union cooperative for the homeworkers. DIP's pilot project has
set economic improvement as the entry point.
Initiave social security scheme
Social security aspect has been adopted among the partner organisations.
MOLSW has developed the mechanism and programme aimed at building social
security for homeworkers and has intention to cover to other labourers in the
informal sector. DIP plans to introduce social security concept through the forum of
producer groups in the village.
Social security concept among NGOs in the northeast is widerspread
through the effort of the NE-HWD Network. HOMENET decide to be a credit union
cooperative to access to both socio-economic security. CULT has been accepted as a
means reach social security at community level. J&P and TESTU have explored
accessibility to various social services for their target group.
Other Inpacts to Homeworkers
Widerspread of the issue of informal sector
In Thailand, the impact of the campaign on social protection for
homeworkers has not only focused to the homeworkers but it has also effected to
the larger sector where the homeworkers belong to, the informal sector. In the past
few year, the informal sector has become a crucial issue in the sense that accessibility
to social services should be obtained. Other informal labourers in agriculture,
Subiegn IA
26/11/1996
18
service and fishery sectors have realized their visibility in the society. The plight of
various labourers in the informal sector has been aware in the public.
Rural industrial promotion policy
The Rural Industrial Promotion Program has been initiated by the
Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP) with an objective to develop and expand
small and medium enterprise in rual areas of Thailand. Building community, local
organizations, and business sector participation are the main strategy of the
program. Key actors of the program consisted of 1) local cooperative of people
organization, 2) NGO and 3) business company. The DIP has played role as
facilitator of the program.Subcontracting system has been used as a tool to link
between the business company and local people. The effort is to building enterprise
capacity of people organization so called, community enterprise.
Two actor organizations, the Appropriate Technology Association (ATA) and
Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT) have involved to the program.
Community enterprise pronzot ion
The concept of community enterprise promotion has also been widerspread
as a key to build strong capacity of the community among government and NGOs.
The idea is to build consolidation of all parties involved in the community i.e.
government, NGOs, business sector, academe, people organizations and mass
media. Within the context of community enterprise, it doesnot ann at increasing
income but include socio-economic development aspect in regard to better living
standard of community people as a key factor.
In March 1996, a seminar on community enterprise was held in Khon Kaen.
The strategy to strengthen community enterprise has been identified. Financial law
and measures have been proposed to revised to support the community enterprise.
The emphasis of community enterprise focused on cooperations mong local
groups. through support of governmant and NGOs.The ideology of community
enterprise should focus on participatory dicision making and equity benefit sharing.
Apart from co-investment, the business sector should provide business management
training, marketing linkage to the community group. In addition the concept of
community business would focus on utilizing local resources, friendlywith
environment and health, and promoting native enterprise. Promotion of the
community enterprise would be a channel to introduce social security building.
Subign
26/11/1996
19
IV. Prospects for the Future
Industrial Promotion Program and Community Enterprise Promotion and Rural
honieworkers
The involvement of the economic and social security concept and the Rural
Industrial Promotion Program of DIP and community enterprise promotion is that
they could become a solution for rural homeworkers. Community enterprises of
rural homeworkers needs to be strengthened so that they would be able to
effectively joined the DIP's industrial program. NGOs are expected to play role and
intermediary to the program. The need to strengthen the necessary skills should be
reviewed. The social security concept could be integrate into these approach at later
stage.
CULT and the Appropriate Technology Association is developing a program
under the auspice of the Industrial Promotion Program. The experience will be
shared among other NGOs at later stage.
The NE-HWD network will continue the effort to strengthen their initiated
social welfare scheme in terms of effective delivery, expansion of members and
exploring availabity of other schemes.
Awareness raising and network expansion among other urban homeworkers
J&P will continued to create a forum of NGOs with emphasis on industrial
labourers in the informal sector. Approach to consolidate the group begins from
conducting preliminary study of the target groups. The pilot project wifi be carefully
designed to ensure effective impact to the target group. Internal assessment wifi be
periodically conducted. Technical assistance will be obtained from academe and
govemement involved. The financial support is required to persue the programme.
The national forum of informal sector wifi be organised through
consolidation of NGOs involved.
TESTU is continuing with their project to organise and assist homeworkers
including other labourer group in the informal sector.
CULT and the Appropriate Technology Association is developing a program
Needs at International and subregional level
Technical exchange forum regarding statistic collection and effective social
protection scheme (regarding law and other services for homeworkers) in western
countries including Japan, Korea are needed.
Study trip to those countries should be organized for the active
organizations. The experience gained should be shared in the national forum of the
informal sector among other active organizations or in the form of publication.
Subregn4
21 111 995
20
Various relevant documents particularly the protection law of homeworkers
and the enforcement should be translated in Thai. Technical meeting to discuss
lesson learned and effort of those countries should be organised.
Subregn4
/1996
21
Chart ol Justice and Peace Program
(A Summary)
Part I. Research
Methodology
Activities
I. Research I
Obscrvation& Questionaire
Results
- Bad working condition
- Familial atmosphere
Live-in
2. Research II
- Subcontracting system
(Garment Industry)
- Production and marketing
In-depth iflterViCWS
3. Research ill
- Problems of subcontractor
and sewers
Part II. Capacity Building for Subcontractors and Sewers
1. Occupational Development
(Subcontractor)
- Entreprenucrial skills trainings
- Confidence building
- Educational tour
- Creating vision for future
- Linkage with the Big Garment
- Relizing the need for group
Producers' Association
2. Community-based program
- Meeting with BMA (Local
organizing
- Awareness raising
Authorities)
- SKT. Credit program
- To extent the subconnactors in
other areas as well
3. Information/Newsletter
-
"Sewers" newsletter ( 4 issues
been published)
4. Workers'/Sewers'
development
- Non-formal education
- i'utorial class
- Crediting wider network of
subcontractors
- Workers' appreciation of our
initiatives for them
- Meeiints
22
Part III. Policy Advocacy
NGOs
-
- Awareness raising
National seminar (2)
- Seminal on Subcontracting
System and Labour
- Research methodology and
Inlormal Sector Labour
- See the need to do research for
Informal Sector Labour
- Action-oriemed research by
other concerned NGOs, FOW
etc.
GOs
- Linking up wiLh DIP.
- Joining the Drafting Corn.
on National Policy for Homeworkers (MOSLW)
- Linking up with other Department e.g. Skills' training to
implement program for Homeworkers
** BMA = Bangkok Municipality Authority
** SKT = Soon Kiang Thewa
** DIP = Department of Industrial Promotion
** MOSLW = Ministry of Social and Labour Welfare
* * * ***
*** *** *
23
Annex 4.2
TOWARDS THE SOCIAL PROTECTION OF THE
- HOMEWORKERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
TOWARDS THE SOCIAL PROTECTION OF THE
1-IOMEWORKERS U THE PHILIPPINES'
1N'I'1)DUCI'! ON
Early on, the interventions towards the promotion of social
protection of' lioineworkcrs had largely l)een pursued by niany sectors
quite independently of each other, and tijereibre, fragmented producing
very Little, it' not insignificant results in improving (lie living and working
conditions of the hotueworkers. Almost invarlal)ly, the social protection
selienies that was 'institutionalized' f'br the homeworkers were sellhelp
vide diversity of lioniework, where
voluntary and indigenous. Given t
the patterns and working arrangeluel:tS vary for one area to another, train
one industry to ipotlier, from one end of the scale to another and so on,
standard social protection programs had been diflicult to develop and are
very limited -- or no social protection, was provided. 'I'his means that the
horiewockers had lo 1nd fir themsf:lvcs the irregularity of j(.b orders,
sickness or accidents arising from their work at their own expeilse.
'['he inability of government rules and regulations to clearly define
the regulatory framework on which their social j)rOtCCtiOtl hinges
con tounded the Woes of (lie homeworkers. The Labor (.ode of the
Philippines while believed to have set the tone towuids the social
protection of the workers in the modernized sector, tI.tilcd to give ample
recognition to homework and the homeworkèrs and to outline the 4ules
and regulations nceckd to promote and sustain homework as a potent
contributor to the economy and promote and expand the accssibility of
kiotiiewotkers to programs and services, and to outline the basic rights
ind privileges of the hoineworkers towards their social protection.
A Country 1aer of ttw 1hiIippinc Delegdion to the 11.O-1)ANIDA Siibi'egional
Meeting on Statistics and Soeiat Protection of llomeworkers held on 27-29 1996 at the
I'ii*icess I latch. flazikuk iiiailand.
Later on, these national actions on homework and hoincwor:crs'
wclt'are were take t on through the formation ol gsassroots oigaiitzalions
and their action' programs, lit KnI3aPa or 'Katipunan ng ll:inc'ng Pilipinn
(Organization of the New Filipino Women). The women envisioned the
creation of en orgamzation of coinnitinily Wot kers serving (tic daily
needs of their barangnys and rnot,ilizing the people lhetnsclve:.
homeworkers. Since its last Congiess in 1992. the KaflaPa was
transformed into a national federation of women associatcs/orp_nni7?ttinns
focusing on the pcculinritics of isst"s cach sector fbcin. It inilinfed the
formation of various women associations based on the types oF woik (hey
are engaged in In KaUal'a, a Commission on Industrial and I lomel,ascd
Work was creaLed to take charge of the concerns and issues on wonten
working in the industries and doing hiomewoik.
the rrtaI
The PAIAMAIA. mcanwhilc. wns the tesnht
training, organizing and institution-building ehibi is oF the homewi I; (15
the KaBaPa. On 1 989. homeworkers front 9 provinces formed an ad hoc
coordinating corn inittee which later spearheaded orum'7mg c1'vi fir the
National Network of I Iorncworkcr;. local lv known ac the. tmn, ,,t iti:n iig
Tagapag-ugnay ug inga Manggagawa sa Ithhnv or PATAMAUA. in
short. This marked the first leap for ward in the hntnewoikcrs rnni'iign.
The PA1'AMAE3Aq today, functions as an autnnnmnns net vl I ot
individual 1icinewoi kcrs.
omo!'in F th'
social protection became more focused and dclii rafe with tl ad en! and
assistance of the It fl-I.)ANIDA Project: I Iomci keis Prii'r nn'iiic (ir
Needless to say. the interventions toward!; the
Empowerment (I L(WE).
ON 111E I MPA( :T (IF El ELI.) it( TiONS
(Jrgtiizizii'g, iVcin'orliuig, I4obhyinj;: 1111(1 ..1
((r('4 a'
R9. ii iw has
Since the esial'lislimcnt 01 ilie PA1'AMAflA in
about 5_P()() HICU1IMMS COVCI inn 3() puviIIce lncnfrd iii L.zon. Vii
and Mind:mno. lhc members are categorized as: (I) :wlivc: niid (2)
inactive. The active members ani those hn u rgiih'nlv p;n' ¶heir ,I,c',!1l1I
dues, paiLicipte actively in almo':t :ull the programs nod a vitk of the
project 1(1805 i CI U181 Iv. aiiti 5lIl)iIlit tegular
organization, P'Y
1
2
orgauLzauiOIl reports. The inacti%
jflVOlVtd in any of the activities ineilliu
..mbers are those who ale not
d.
expand its
There were years when the PATAMABA did not
in the
,nembership in order to ensure that the needs of their members
livelihood are appropriatelY
areas of education and training and
the orgaiiiZUti11 gave
responded to and maintained. From 1994-95,
Regional coinflhttleCS were set-Up SC)
emphasis on quality
able to directly supervise the
that the ileads
that the prOl)lefllS arc given
ativiLies of the organization and to cusure
well as the coniplaints on the 'io1utions of their
of the COflhLULUCCS are
ap11ropriate attention u .
authot ities. With the
rights as Liotnewoikers are addressed to the proper
able to
estal&lishinieUL ot these regional committees, the PATAMAI3A was
at the local level. This
deentraliZC its prograllis and a1ivi1ies
11idependeitUy ilupleIfluht
(lecekLllalizatioIl enabled their local chapters to
the nutiol leadership.
their programs without relying too much on
chapters were able
tiuougti this strateg). some ol.iieials of the local
in implementing
to demonstrate their leadership and independence
but also within the
1)rogLatus iiot 01)1)' wiLkil) their organization
become involcd in
IUfflUHLtLCS WlRfC they belong. It) luct, Some h.)d
municipalitY or
polilics and were elected ui leaders in their barangay,
that b(11I a woillall amid a
1)WViIt'. I\[ thc Same lime, it LS PFOVCU
hotisewite we uo( hindrances vi providing service to the omnJ11UuhtY.
Ling acti'ities of PATAMABA had the fullowimig
lime imeR
promote
;0b)eCtiVCS (1) Lu .iticm case awareness of the organization; (2) to
funds fur the
and disseniimmate iIttM ination on hoinewol k; (3) to generate
and (5) to
orgallizutiUn; (.1 ) to intl UCflCC the policy-making LM ocess; S
provnk acccs.S It) social services.
assistailce from the international I .nbour
lhimnination of Child I .tmbotr
)fglIfliZUt)U-ltl(e.11h10hi 1rc)grau1 fur the
child labour,
(ii .( )t PEC), LIme l,Vl,\MAUA had worked on the issue of
piuhtents o child labor in
ueutarly, in mmdci standing and knowing ihe
With
Iimn.Iing
- jeiati('ii to Lomnewui 1;.
aiid
Thrtight VU iutI.S eoILSUltalR)tt nieeliiigs, Iota, eoutercimcs
inIcruatiollal levels (e.g. fourth
worLshtoL)s, bOth) at the national and
,L Women in Reijing, Woild Sutitinit fur Social
WLt Cou1reiice
StibtegitiUI Meetings,
was able
I huenet Planning Work shop, and others) the PA1'AMABA
ence,
1 )cvelopmuelIt in Copenhagen, 11 .() Coaler
3
to elevate the issues and concerns of lioincworkcrs most especiall\' on
awareness of the sector, Luck of access to social scrvicc.s and lack o1
funding assistaneC from government br the sector. In the area of policy
reforuis, the absence of social protection for the honiewrokers was
appropriately addressed. And at ihc national level, under the Social
Rctorin Agenda (SRA), the government led in the trinulatinn and design
a Master Plan of Operations (M PU) tr the v('rkvrs in (he in Irinal
sector where the lioiucvoikers arc part of. Aside from all these
programs, the PATi\MAI3A has involved itsel I with other related
programs ol (Jovernnicn .
Ecoiwinic Jiz:poi rcrzzicii( and SOCUZ I Jns,iran cc for lhnncn'ork crs
The ed ucatitin and U aining plogi am lr the hit incvorkcrs had been
(IOUC through various methods. hiic cow ses covered the areas of. I )
orguuizing (2) lobbying and advoc:tcy (3) in:uiageiimeut and setting-up I)!
ctic1 i' e
cooperatLVCS ('I ) pi oject inaivagenieiut and limiance; (5)
leadership; and (C ) pi tuct design and qwuli (V iInIirovcmeiml.
Thes training ourscs were conducted at the local chapici s to
maximize the number of members that could be rcahcd by training.
Aside from training, the LATAMAL3A was able to pu t and disseminate
newsletters, guides and instructional materials for the tiaiiiing courses. At
the same! time, the PATAMAJ3A was able to create awareness on the
plight of the homeworkcrs through a radio program which the set-up.
This radio progiain aimed In inlini the izo\CI inuent sector, the i ivate
orgauiZLttR)US and (ihLer voikcrs
rgaiii/.at ions the pi oblems of )IuIiic
i
and discuss (lie possible solutions to such prolleins.
The curriculum for education and training had been revised t
lurther enhance the awareness and concienti/.atit"i ot the honuewni ket s.
The potency of the enhancing awareness thi ough education and training
was proven advantageous to the hIonlew rkers in the allocaiion/budgcluig
ol' their time and resources as houievurkcj s and as housewives. I .ikcwisc.
education and trainliug had bioughit ifl inipltivenicfltS in the pcistniahilics
and well-being of the homcwouker.s and dehued their responsiLhi1ies to
their children and the nicinbers of the f.iinilv. And to the community.
eduaEion and U aininu had bwuihmt incatet meahia(nn ol the
developmental rcspcmsiliihitics in the eniuntuumity
hevc 11mev bchng.
4
The PATAMABA supervised the implemciUation of the livchiliood
projects of the làca chapters. With a small funding coming from the
ILO-DANIDA Revolving Fund, the PATAMAI3A started its liyclihood
progran through the establishment of a small credit window' for the
capitalization of projects of local chapters charging an annual iliterest of
1O% The .PATAMAI.3/\ was also a recipient of a PhilP 3 M livelihood
assistance from the J)epar(nient of I .aL,ur and Etnpluymcnl-1 3ureau of
Women aiid Yotwg Workers for the start-tip Iiinding ol small busimiesses
of iLs members under Wouicn Workcis lntrcpi enctirglii' and
Employment Dcvclopment ('EEI)) Program i the said dcpartiucn.
The hivc1ihiod program oL' the PATAMi\l A served not only to
directly assist its mnenhI)ers but also to secure the Iong-terui source ol Lime
needs: and provisions of time organization. The implementation of the
projects is based on formulated crcdiiilciiding policies and managed by a
project committee tasked with assessing the project proposals emanating
from local member-groups, monitoring, and evaluation of' the results of
the unplcnmcutation of the projects. 1'hierc were groups who were assisted
who were found to have improved through the proper nnumagenient and
implementation o[.thei r projects. Some manifestations of improvements
were the Lohlowing (I) renovations of their residences: (2) proeurcnieiit
of morp equipment for their projects and huusehoId pp1ianees (3)
incfcäse in Litmily income: and (4) aflbrdability to send their children to
secondary and collegiate education.
I
The livelihood program also afflrdcd the means for the members to
secure their household needs. In addition to rovklin the loan for ih
initial capital requirements of their snudi busitiesses. the livelihood
program also afloi:dcd them to iuisue the enhancement in product quality
and design towards exporting them to other countues.
The l)epartinent of I .abur and Eniplo nient and the Internatintial
Labour Orgaiiizatiin had been at the I relionl in providing assistance to
the PATAMAI3A. Other govern menial and mum-goveiiiineliIal
organization like the Marketing Associations ni Groups Involved in t lie
Communities (MAGIC). had assisted the homeworkeis not only in
marketing their products through bazaars md trade Itirs but also in
improvIng the quality and design of their products.
5
The PATAMABA hid also lobbied for the provision of social
security protection for homcworkcrs. Presently, the hoineworkers arc
covcrcI by 'social insurance under the Philippine Social Security System
(SSS) falling under, their Expanded Program for the SelIEiiiPloyCd
Workers (where the homcworkers fall as inIbrmal sector workers). Other
than the SSS, the PATAMAI3A is also affiliated with the Coop-l.i1
Insurance Mutual Benefit Services Association (CLIMBS) which provides
death benefits for their members.
Through the legal and technical assistance of the University of' the
Philippines Law center, the PATAMA13A draflcd the Magna Carla flr
liomeworkers with an accompanying l)eclaration of Rights of
Ilorneworkers for the enactment into law by the Philippine Legislature.
After a series ol consultations conducted under the auspices of the
Department of labr and Employment, it was concluded that the cxisting
laws adequately cover the intent and purposes of the draft Magna Carla
but there is a need to update in light of changes in the conditions ot
homewor.k in tlie'present times. Thus. Department Order No. 5 was
issued amending Rule XIV, hook Three ot the Rules implementing the
Labor Code of
the
Philippines to
szovcrll
the employment of
liomeworkcrs.
l)epartmcnt Ordcr No. 5 established in explicit terms the juridical
relationship as vell as liabilities between and among the cmploye'. the
contractor, the subcontractor and the homework. It also pr9vided ibr the
registration of employers, contractors, and subcontractors foi purposes of
better control. At the same time, the homeworkers were granted the right
to form, join or assist organizations of their own choosing in accordance
with law. Central to the new rule is the definition of' industrial homewurl'
which was not delined in the previous rules. As now defined, industrial
homework is ' XXX a system of production under which work li an
employer or contractor is carried out b a l%omcworkcr at his'her home.
Materials may or may not be furnished by the employer or contractor
It differs from regular lactoiy production principally in that it is a
decentralized form of production where there is oi diimril very little
lt is to be noted.
supervision or regulations of methods of work XXX
however, that the Labor Code provisions on honievorkcrs are applicable
only to 'employed' industrial lioineworkci's'. I Icuce. Department Qider
No. 5 covers only this type othoineworkcrs.
6
Project
in addition to the activities initiated and supported by
IK)PE are various projects and programs benctitting homebused workers
being iiuplcnicnted by other organizations. Several trade unions under
the umbrella of the Trade Union Congress ot the Philippines (1IJCP) and
l'cdcration ol Irec WOrkers ( E+W) arc extending not only financial
assistance I nit also si; ill training to he mciiit ers and their iiiniilics. These
ii ade unioi is had also estat,Iislied in En mat sccl ii desks where the issues
and comicem us of Iunncv ii ket s ai c resC;IIClic(l ciii. and pcisil ions iidied
fbr their cvcntual adOj)(i(iIl aiRi lobbying in lcnzi like tripatrile eonI.a ences.
cuusultatiiis and other venues in which pulkv matters am c tackled.
Concern over new. liii alTangemuents and patterns of woi k amid the
gr)Wi11g ca.sualizatumn of employment has increasingly been a centi al
is;ue for many union iii nm iiv Iinwns.
ci inij anies had establishcd
units/ofhcc and created their own schemes. and h rmcd fliundatiomis (I
j ilan and imnpleiiient plograins of asskt:mimce t homneworkers. ilit;e
Sonic cniphvers
thtc'umh
their
I auwng lit mi si ici:il
philaiilropliv to enterprise develi mpnient to IiiaketiIi! assistance.
coii,anic are iiito whole specli urn
of
ic IS.! I :i iii';
1
1..
Meanwhile. iion-govcrnnlen (at tirgatmi/alic mns have been pm ovidimig
time continuing stiti ice of sti engtim and inspii :il ii in iii iinpl ovi mig the Ii t (II
lmo,ucvorkcrs. A case in point is the sustained suppum I tW the Save I he
Children and otIie 01 gani/ationS towards the strengthening of time
institutional capacity of (lie Partiiers tr Smibseelor Development ( ISi ) ).
'lime PS I) is an alliance ui peoples organi,a I icn I '( )s in Met to Ma iii Ia
'lime mission of the ui gamliza ti 'ii is ii inij mm e time lives ui v cilneil and
m
tiunilies who make pmoducts Ii tim garment Imett it v 'm m etaso.
nlcnmbCrs make rags. mats. clothes and
iii i
eil
lime
itenis and
vcimimemi-
eil I hen
products it m individual amid institutional htm ci s. Suppom ted 1w Save I lie
Children amid other cirganizat it ins. PSI ) pit mviile' lime ' ' 'men ilh I 'usi miess
development services liat include maw i mmatei iais soui cing :,id
distribution, market linkages, business n mit it ii ills Save I lie Clii Idi cii
identified these services as ci itical to mi pm tn i ng time timemi s pm out :; a mit1
influence through a participatory anal sis ui (lie i etaso industry.
The :issis(ammce 1uuvidcd to PSI) amid I SI )'s cn ii eIIim is li:t' e
produced a positive i mnpaet at three (3 ) level';: individual. oi gani/a tic mat
811(1 poliCy.
w
7
IndhiduaI 1-Iomeworkcrs. PSD has increased its rcprcsdnteI
membership from ÔOP at the launching of the alliance to approximately
1,500. The improvements 1in the delivery of services has enabled the
orgaiiizaion to prvide concrete improvements to more members. Lower
prices ffr retaso directly increases the income of the honicworkers.
Institutional markets provide women with nii'rc steady income earning
opportunities and enable them to take [)urdcn ol selling oil their li mik.
I hiving ol choice ol' raw naIerinls suppliers and markets give
liO1imC\VFl.CFS II1OIC Nirgnintiig power within lime wdtitrv.
(.)rgnm%i/.atioiial. The SLa U oflicers and i einber_represcnLaLi\4; aic
bceuniimig milure eipaLlc to develop l'SI) as an tirgaiiization. liieie has
been an increase in the capabihtv and p:u Licipation o! Various PSI)
stakeholders in cinperatiug to achieve their development ul;ccti
Particularly over the last ten months. the I 'SI) members and stall have
iniprovcd their undrsLanding oF their IiflaIHial Hull btiiiiss t))Crati( nms
svstenis including the critical details which enable a business to opei ate
cliicicnlly. Financial .rccording and control h:ts iinpiovcd. Alt hough. at
times. si i ki hnaumeial C( Hit rul caused ti um hid . it has mci eased
accountalility within the organu/.aLRnI and continued LI) CI1CI)tIi age
members to understand the need lr the liumucial viability of the
organization.
More and on i c t.' ' ciii in cot a;.? d private
organizations arc warc of ISI ) and rccogni/.e it as both business
partner and a Iegitiummatc representative oh retasu wor Lets. Vancnis i'r,ns
I'ol icy Ad vocacv.
1i
of linkages \:ere established to CXICSS .SLIPIRIIt in the aicas ol iiiai keLing
organizational development. rcdii and retaso sotuciuig and advocacy.
8
ON LESSONS LEARNED
Organizing, A7etworking, Lobbying and Advocacy
The tbncv ola flriniug and strengthening a national organiiath'n
a the central StrategY in propelling a national action program like Puject
I U)Pl cannot be (wcrcnlphastzcd. ()rgani/.ing puts to hear the
ii iflitiHliVC, arid phase.
iarticIpa1ici1i 811(1 uit)l)lllZntft)l1 of people at their
in ccrtain pursuits That lead to their own development, find when these
peopiCS' organization arc transfiirmcd in to Ill ncti )nal aggrupation ol"
people, the iiienibers have their fora and:or vehicles to push further
individual and collptive agenda of'devçlnpntcnt.
I3cliuc Project I lOPE, there were air eadv .zi assro ts orgunizifi ion's
of women honieworkers in the count r V. i u the advent oF the
PiVIAMA! 3A brought a new dimension in or gari i/.iiig the ht)lncwoI Lets.
PAIAMAJ 3A brought ill the notion of' a network, national in character
and grassroots in origin. The PATAMAI i\ experience points to tire
potency of the orgaiiizatioiis in propelling the pursuits towards the
promotion of' the suial protection of honicwtrrkcrs. Project I l( )PE shows
that it would be inure effective to idcniit\'. even at the outset. iliStittiti('nS
whose comniitmcnt is indigenously determined. The cxericncc indicate
that indigenous groups arc by fhr the most committed in promoting the
social protcctioi of' honicworkcrs because the members of' these groups
Among the many areas I Irese
zuc tire. hoinewor kcr themselves.
organizations can take productive roles are in the llioving:
Mass mobilization of homeworkers I ii rough organii.ing arid
networking. arid education and training.
/\varcne.s raising and advocacy.
I 'articipatnon in .the
k)rmulalioli and evaluation of policies 811(1 programs helps ill
- lurther opening up awareness in the plight i the honrewor kers.
Conduiting of assistance.
Govcrmiicnt assistance can be
extended in terms of brokcring bet ween I he hotricwoikers a ird
government.
9
4.
Networking and linkage building thr a variety of assistance
needed the honicworkcrs. For one, the organizations can "shop
aroun1" for potential buyers and/or contractorsfctnplovcrs
through tlicii' participation in product exhibits and bazaars.
Meanwhile, there IS 8 variety ot roles ttIier institutions C8I1 pktv in
the nirsui1 o[ social protection ot' the liomcvorkcrs. and cflbri s
strengthen the participation ol these itIsti(tItu)tIs can be very fruitilil. i "he
mobilization, networking and linkages of' oilier coticci ned insliLutioiis
though not given d tic attention most oflen ii mes uf lr vast o(dnt
ir
Ilirtlicring the gains it the pursuit otsocial protection of homcworkcrs.
I
I
L'coizo,nic E,zpoii 'c'rinc'izl (Zfl (1 S'oc:a1 lnsuraii eeJ(Jr 11o,z:e,vorIers
As a spcciflc sector of' vork loice. the homeworkers arc generally
poorly serviced. Most otlen, there is a tendency in terms of' service
provision to equate homework with the fliinuil sector. 1 loinewurkcrs ate
most often left to themselves to inquire and'or negotiate access to these
program aid services. But the homcworkcrs arc made of individuals
with little ut no education, and ollen, limited knowlcdgà of how vat bus
institutions operate. They cannot be expected to respond i eadily in
Support measures, or negotiate thcbest terms tir their weitlire.
huts, it is itHl)oIlant it) adopt inure innovaii\ c strategies It) epainl
I luci r access (( and out reach of snppoi t progi a ins a tid services, pet ha ps to
the point of' lringinu the progrzuns atid services to their doors. 1a1 her I ImTI
expecting them approach the agencies. There is also a need to integi ale
and package [lie support programs and services incliidin access to ciedit.
training iii cntrcpreneui ship. business and technical aicas. iechiiical
assistance. marketitig assislatuce. counselling, and pru 'duct design a
i1I)pl'OVCIIuCui 1.
Iodav there isan increasing concertu and luei&iiencd aaf cuess out
the humanization of work. I lowever. iI would appear that there is still a
residual bias of policy and legislation towards inipt('vemenl ol' ternis and
condilion.s of' work in the shop floor and Iict it v o the lueglect ni the
special gr m ps ul v n k crs like the lit in uew it ci
10
More often'than not, the policy environment operttes against the
homeworkers. Incresing unrealistic standards, limited credit availability,
lack of legal framework 'and petty harassmcnt all advcrs9!y aiThet
homework and the homeworkers.
Relative to the experience of the Save the Children in supporting
the institutional capacity oiThe Partners fiw .Subscctor Development. the
Ebilowing lessons were drawn:
Individual I lomeworkers. The ConhiflLliIIg cluthlenge is to IUSUEC that
all PSI) member hoiiieworkcrs have reliable access to the services olThied
by PSI) and to expand the iiumbcr of coniinunities participating in the
alliance,
in addition, all members need to understand the PSI). be
motivated to participate beyond only accessing services and be able to
participate through strong community level committees.
Organizational. i PSIYs capacity to manage tinancial resources is
improviI1g lIowever, inure' on-the-job guidance and training ol' member
P0 committees will be required to insure that the new systems will be
consistently followed: This cfl'ort viIl be important as PSD's membership
and business activities continue to expand. While the PSI) is beginning
to decentra!ize its operations, helping geographic clusters of members to
manage services indpcndently will help the organization grow.
Policy Advocacy. Formal recognition of the retaso industry by the
Philippine government requires a congressional resolution. While the
Department of Trade and Industry has olThrcd support in dtaI1ing this
resolution, the necessity of focusing on business management has
prevented PSI) from moving forward with formal advocacy.
Nevertheless, PSD's increasing links with local government units have
proved important in inembershi p expansion. raw materials sourcing and
marketing.
II
FOLLOW-Up ACTIONS
Organizing, Networking, Lobbying andil di'ocacy
The expansion and viability of the honicworkcrs' organizations
should be further intensi lied on an industry and geographical basis. In
the long z.un. organizing should be geared towards
stiengthening activities
of the existing organizations with the end-objective of
making them setl
reliant and self-propelling at the same time. making their
products and
services competitive and marketable.
Meanwhile, the I existing
organizations can be mainstrcanicd in govcrnmcnt programs and services
to help them establish their track record perf.nrnancc. They can be
helped to seek accreditation as conduits of ilimids for relcndiiig
to
individual homeworkers for their own micro-enterprises. In this Wa.
they not only gain experience and expertise but also realize some
income
from the proceeds of rcicnding.
The information and data base on homework should
be
instj(jónaljzcd. Thc collection of data on honiewo,kcrs have tirst to be
piloted to be able k-stablish a good benchmark b which
assessment of
the irnact of programs on social protection and the promotion of
honieworkers' weiflire can be carried out. The initial step being done in
the Phjlippiucs is to study the incidence of honicworkers in sample areas
of the Integrated Survey of Households numbering about 2000 primarv
sampling units (PSU) with about 1 .1 million huusehold. Ibis can he
made possible by asking every household in each PSU on the presence ot
liomcworkers. These listings can provide an estimate of the total
homoworkers for each administrative region and ür the entire country.
On the basis of these listings, a follow up survey can be
undertaken to gather information about the liomcworkcrs and ma be
able to provide current situation on social and wclthrc
benefits enjoyed by
them. The lessons learned from this exercise can provide basis br
iinproviig fiuturc surveys on lionieworkers. It will also test whether
time
concept of hoineworkers can be efficiently operalionalized to provide
accurate data.
12
Economic Jn:;,ois'crmne,d and Social Insurance for IIo,ncn'ork ww
The institutionalization in government of the concerns tova rds I he
promotion of (he social protection of' honicwokers should be earrkkl out
A specific agcny in govcrzimcnt should be dcsignatcd and/or givcii
mandate IC) coordmaic the network of services .lbr homeworkers. These
services shall include the soil serviccs like reflrials. market scanning.
policy research, advcacy and forums !r (ti8l(gUCS and (IISCLLS.S1OHS. and
the hard services like Irainings. credit development. This aciicy shall
also be tasked to link, and coordinate all actions Ir homewo kers
devckpment. Meanwhile, this agency can he tasked in putting in
measures to ensure the strengthening of t lie N:, tI( mat Stceiing Ci nnni it Ice
vitli the principal locus in its rok in polkv It ,,iulalii'n. and ttiiItt iii
and cvaluation ol' initiatives Icnvard lioniew ii I; et s wcl fhr c.
Intcruatioiiallv assisted projects for disadvaiitaued groups such :i
the honieworkers should be expanded. if not i eplicated lbr a II nil liii
cross-fcrtthzation of ideas and stratcuies ann ng various national
niovcnicnts and gi oups. Meanwhile, the dlsctissii ii and consultatio,is on
the ILO Convention on I knncworkcrs can p1 (Iceed towards its rat i lic:i iii 'i
and adoption.
1!3
COUNTRY REPORT
SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR
WOMEN HOMEBASED WORKERS IN INDONESIA
Prepared by:
Rahayu Dahian
Hesti R. Wijaya
Presented at
ILO-DANIDA Sub-Regional
Meeting on Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworkers
Bangkok
26 - 29 Novernber 1996
SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR
WOMEN HOMEBASED WORKERS IN INDONESIA
I. GOVERNMENT SECTOR
1. BACKGROUND
stressed the
The 1993 Broad State Guideline (Garis Besar halauan Negara - GBHN)
continually
to support
quality of Indonesian people, including the workers, to be enhanced
the economic development in the future. Quality of the workers can be enhanced through
skill courses and increasing their protection according to the implementing regulations.
Furthermore, the 1993 GBHN also stressed the labourers' protection which includes
the rights to make a union and discuss, work safety and health, the labourers' social security, and enhancing other working requirements. For women workers in particular, special
attention and protection with regards to their honour and dignity is offered.
The 1990 Census revealed that about 63.5 percent or 45.7 Indonesian workers are
in the informal sector. Effort to enhance the quality of these workers is necessarily done
through skill courses and the workers social protection.
In the course of economic development in Indonesia, the number of women workers
who work in small Industries and Home-based industries tend to increase especially in the
rural area. Most of the women workers are home based workers.
Home based workers are classified as informal workers which has not been reached
by the governments policy and labour laws and regulation. Most of the workers in the
informal sector are low educated women.
Recently, the presence of women as one of the potencial to participate in the nation's development is a must. Women's double role as a mother who is responsible for the
children and family's welfare and on the other hand as a person who actively participate in
the social life. Hence, enhancing women's knowledge and skill in various field is very
much needed.
Based on the 1990 census, the labour force participation rate in the rural area is
higher than that in the urban area for both men and women workers. The increasing rate of
the women's labour force participation largerly was due to the higher educational level
attainment for women and a wider employment opportunities outside agricultural sector
such as home industries. Workers in the rural area tends to involve family members in
earning a living which do not require high education and skill, such as in the informal
sector.
2. EFFORTS OF THE MANPOWER DEPARTMENT FROM 1993/1994 UNTIL
1996/1997.
In the last three years, efforts has been focused mostly on training to women
workers in the informal sector. These are:
1. Training of Trainers (TOT) for Facilitators of the Women Workers in
the informal
sector at the national level.
- The participants are : - Labour Inspectors
- NGOs
- Public Organizations
- Number of participants: 183 persons
- Regional coverage
: 21 provinces
2. Training of Trainers (TOT) for Child Care Managers and Enhancing Exclusive Breastfeeding.
- The participants are : - Labour Inspectors
- NGOs
- Public Organizations
- Regional coverage
: 21 provinces.
3. Training of Trainers (TOT) on Skills for Women Workers in the informal sector.
- Regional coverage
: 19 provinces.
4. Further training conducted by the TOT participants, national level, to the provincial
level. As many as 4,110 persons have been trained.
5. In 1996/1997 a training for Women Workers in the Informal Sectors has begun, in
which the number of participants amounted to 1,140 persons.
6. Writing training modules and guideline books:
Facilitator Training Module
Skill Training Module
Guide book in enhancing Exclusive Breastfeeding for Women Workers.
Guide book on Women at Work.
Training Module for Women Workers in the Putting Out System.
7. The formation of the National Steering Committee on Social Protection for Women
Workers. This has been agreed by Director General of Supervision and Labour Standard
(Binawas). At the moment it is still in the endorsement process.
For women homebased workers in the putting out system in particular, a training
module has been completed. In October 1996, a working group consist of Depariment of
Manpower and NGOs Friend of Homebased workers has been agreed to move forward the
issue of ratification of Homebased Workers Convention as well as policy for homebased
workers. This working group eventualy is upgraded to become a National Steering Committee on Social Protection for Women Workers.
3. FUTURE ACTIVITIES.
The future activities are:
A more guided direct training/extension for women workers who work at the informal
sector.
Materialized the activities of the National Steering Committee on Social Protection for
Women Workers in the informal sector.
The realization of the protection concept for women worker in the informal sector (such
as : business relationship, wages, work safety and health, social insurance, etc).
II. WOMEN HOMEBASED WORKER'S SECTOR
As revealed in the national roundtable among NGOs and Women Homebased
Workers in September 1996, in summary the activities of the homebased workers at the
grassroots level by their groups are as follows:
No.
0UPS
1. SIDO MUK-
TI COLLECWJE
BUSSIBES
(BIN?
SWAD?.YA
YOGJAKARTA)
SOcIAl. PROTECfl(Ei BEWFIT
flDEPCY.
REXON
RESPONSIBILITIES
a.Monthly contribution of
each member is Rp 200.employer Ep 200,- and
Rp 2.SOO,- is saved
from the group profit
for medical expences for
members suffer from iflnes.
death charity. .embers
in financial difficulties
ORGP.NIZATION:
SOC
a.Transformi-ng homebased
a .Thexe are 5
workers into indepenW
groups
dent employers
which receive
credit from
the Bank.
b Establishing
health fw
b. collective hosainess
in batik processing
from members
b.Reserved fund is plan ned for members who
receive medical sex -
vices at the hospital.
c. In each meet- c.Establishing their own
ing there are
door prize in
the form of 2
batik processing bussiness/
self employment in batik
processing Ixissiness
glass tiles
3
2. rXK1 AYU a.Rp 350. -/member/month
GROUP
for health fund
a. Increasing the
number of
groups
(MERDEKA
a. transforming group members
from h nh..ed workers into
midiile-persons/sub-con-
tractors
uNxvERsrrY b. Ep 400. -/member/oonth
for nutrition inrovement.
From that maney. health
scheeme is established.
Members ouiy need to
show their member card
to receive treatment
from the hospital or
Coemunity Health Center
b - Monthly group
meeting
c.Guidance fzom
councellor
h. Dye training
c. Capital provision through
lending scheene for group
members
d.Group capital
c.In the planning stage:
Death contrihtion for.
and from, the members.
LENBAGA
a.Receiving 25% from the
bazar profit
DAYA
aint of the
members saving
DHA
GROUP.
a - Increasing the
b.Rp 200, -/month/member
for membership con-
.ThKARTA
tribut ion
C-
status from
workers into
entrepreneurs
b.Routine group
meeting
Rotating lottery fund
of Hp 200. -/manth/mem-
a.Transgorming the
c.Group training
her
b.Receiving Ca-
pital lending
c.Increasing sales
capacity
BENEFIT:
a.To help the sick members
and the dead one
a.Taking 1% profit from
the collective business
b - Cooperation with health
clinic.
SAVE THE
WREN
a.Rp 50, -/member/month
contribution
training for
the members
GROUPS
(aNtA1SA)
a.Education and
b.5% group profit islogo.
deducted by 5%
(there is constrain
in this matter)
c Savings and lendings
for medical expenses,
Family Planning, death
BENEFIT:
a.Open up a store
to market the
product, selling
etc.
b.WHW group be-
comes a Credit
Union
b.Education and train1mg on sewing for
the group members
c. Provision of capital
through lending
mechanism to members
d. Increasing sales
capacity
- Helping sick and dead
members
4
5. TUE RURAL
DEVEI
a.Rp 200. -/onth/member
contribution
FOUNDATION
(yPp)
NG
a. Increasing the
nunber of
the groups
bkeceiving 5% from the
collective business
profit
b.Training for
the members
aho.ebased workers
bas to be eg,owered
to do bargaining
b.Extending collective
group activities
(various)
c - Occupational Bealth
c.Raising homeworkers status
to be recognised
d.Savings and
Leadings Cooperatives
Fund
d.Group Meeting fund
e. Founding the
BENEFITS:
a.ilari Raya Benefit
b.Maternity Benefit
PLAN:
a.Death Benefits for
the members
Association of
Indonesian Women
c - Bargaining for
better piece rate
e.g. - through
better quality
quality; through
collective production
activity by the group
to learn the degree of
exploitation and suitable
piece rate
Homebased-Workers
During the national meeting by end of September 1996 in Malang, the representatif
of women homebased workers from Jakarta, Central Java and East Java have agreed to the
following points:
a. The establishment of a network namely : HIMPUNAN WANITA PEKERJA RUMAHAN
INDONESIA (HWPRI - The Indonesian Women Homebased Workers Association).
b. The purpose of the association is to struggle for the homebased workers' rights to receive decent wage, to promote visibility of the women homebased workers and to gain
formal recognition as workers.
c. The organizational bases is Pancasila by ideology, the 1945 Basic Constitution, the
related Labour regulations including Labour Protection Regulation.
d. Identifying group coordinator by November 1997 by regional coverage, in the respective
areas where the homeworkers are beginning to organize.
e. The expected date of to appoint the group Coordinators by areas are:
Jakarta, December 1996
Kiaten (Wedi), December 1997
Kiaten (Bayat), has been formed in 1995
Pasuruan (Sidodadi), December 1996
Malang (Kidangbang), December 1996
East Java HWPRI, has been formed in 1995
f. Expected date to establish a National Level Coordinator is September 1997, during its
first congress, in which formal requirements to form organization of homebased workers
will be discussed, and working programme shall be agreed upon.
5
Requesting their respective NGO Friend of Homebased Workers to invite other women
homebased workers to join the association.
The National Level organization of homebased workers association is expected in operation commencing in 1997, following the first congress.
HWPRI Logo has been agreed.
III. NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION SECTOR: NGOs FRIENDS OF
HOMEWORKERS
In September 1996 meeting, these NGOs agreed to network, namely NGOs Friend
of Homeworkers (Mitra Wanita Pekerja Rumahan) to support homeworkers. The 5 NGOs
presently working with women homebased workers at the grass roots level do not commencing their action at the same time. Consequently, their activities varies one from
another. The result of these NGOs can be depicted as follows:
No.
issue i.n organizing MEW
1. STRATEGY a. Collective/group eowerment
Mobilizing formal/informal
leaders in the area.
Mobilizing and maximizing
the caders work through
involvement of employers/
collectors/middlepersons
Group formation should be
based on the needs.
on the problems they are
facing and the goals.
through. Arisan group.
Saving Group, cocperatives etc.
b. Exposing Women Hemeworker
Social Protection
Social Economy 1pproach
Forming and developing a. Making written work
contract between MEW
Collective Business
and the work-giver
((B)
(collector/employer)
Training and realizing
the Group&Bank Relationship to each (B
b. Forming& developing
Work Health Fund
C. Seeking alternative occupatiou such as bar-
c. Giving extention
courses and practice
ber bridal make-up.
Work, Health and
etc.
Safety (X-3) such
as work exercise,
d. Gender and law aware-
massage, traditio-
ness training to all.
particularly to MEW
al medicine. etc.
(MEW) issue to make it visi-
a.
ble, by:
Baseline Study on MEW.
Mapping the type of work.
working condition, occupational health issue, etc.
Forming and develop-
ing Social fund for
B members.
Awareness process to all
parties including to MEW.
Organizing seminars and
workshops involving practitioners and scientists.
Enhancing MEW paxticipa tion in national events.
c. Strengthening and extending
the network between Indone Sian Women Romeworkers
a. Organizing homeworkers into an
association
6
2.IMPOR -
a. prograalnes were identified
on the need of each MEW,
a. Quality control of
each ( s products.
FACTORS
b.
Cooperating with MEW's
husbands so they would
support their wives'
Involving collectors/employers in various activities.
C. Cooperating as well as possthle with the husbands so
they would not hinder their
wives' activities and sup port then instead
activities.
Marketing extension
Trying to legalize the
major product which is
food product fran the
health department.
d Enhancing the function!
role of caders.
3.UNDER-
The weak management of MEW,
LOPED
lack of managerial skill
and unability to reach
I
the collectors/employers.
DEVE -
MEW capital ownership is
relatively small.
C. In several areas, it is
real difficult to educate
a.
There are several garment group business
are not elligible to
obtain credit from the
Bank, due to the lack
of initial capital
a. Improving the condition or work place
to meet a healthy
workplace.
b. Training and imple
nenting EWGONOC
work pattern.
b. Limited marketing
areas
the collectors/employers!
sub-contractors
The MEW are not discipline
with the tima.
MEW lack of organizational
skill
4. Future a. MEW collective empowerment
Plan of
through
management trainlictions
ing. motivating to saving.
gender awareness training
for both husbands/wives.
Each trainerlpartner
will learn/sharing
R.
experience on
Developing the small
a. Law awareness to
MEW so they huow
their rights and
responsibilities as
workers
buai.ness.
Legalizing and institutionalizing HWPRX organization
toward its visibility, to
have access to formal ser-
c. Developing practical
technology.
vices f rem the gavernt
d Gender awareness traiand the society
ning for husband/wife.
Hearing with various related e. Assertive training
institution to .aterialize
ratification of the NEW convention.
1. Networking with vari-
b. Bearing to the go vernment (both legis
lative & executives)
to promote policies/
ratify the NEW con vention.
ous parties.
7
IV. IMPACT OF FIELD ACTIONS
1. On the Impact of Field Actions
Up to the present time, because the direct field action is not specifically gender
sensitive, the impact of the action on the empowement of the women homeworkers be it is
economically, socially, or politically, in most cases is not clear yet. Among the 5 NGOs
conducted field action, only YPP and Save the Children include gender. Gender sensitivity
is one of the underlying approach in the YPP's action from the beginning, while Save the
children integrated it in the Small Bussines Management and Gender Training. Therefore,
nothing much maybe revealed. A few from YPP's experiences that focus its action to
empower women homebased workers in the putting out system through educationllraining
and organizing as intervention mechanism, that indicates empowerment is presented as
follows.
Mechanisms
Education/
training
Manifestation/indicators
- some knowledge of being
treated unfairly by
middle -persons/employers!
sub-contractors
- intention to request for
.proper piece rate
.proper Han Raya benefit
instrument
proper time for .production process
- discussing strategy for
bargaining
- some knowledge on rights
and responsibilites
as workers
Impact/outcome
bargaining for
increased piece
rates, both
collectively
individually
bargaining for
proper procedure
.raw materials
to be delivered
at homeworkers
premises
writtencontract
- bargaining for
time of product
delivery
- bargaining for
increased Han
Raya Benefits
- courage to discuss with Off i-
- discussing with male
partner for:
.balanced time allocation
at home
.pay respect to homework
cials from Industries technical agencies who
support exploitative employer
- husbands taking
care of themselves when the women is busy with
homework
8
.control of income
- share of household chores
- discussing on alternative
employment
- discussing on alternative
social protection
Organizing &
Networking
-
-
-
- indigenous social protection
(model on economy, health,
Political power
HWPRI is formed (although
it has not been formalised - Recognition
courage to share
yet)
their problems
other
homeworinvited
before planners
kers organised by NGOs
& Executives
Friends of Homeworkers
- request to be
to join HWPRI
part of internawrote a letter to Hometional homeworNet International to
kers association
become its member
request to learn
be
able
to
intention to
English
communicate internationally
- request to learn
intention to be able to
organizational
organize homeworkers
management
nationally amids their
limited time as homeworkers
2. On Lessons Learned
At the grassroots level, organizing is difficult. There are various reasons for it. On
the women homebased workers side, they have limited time left, having neither skills nor
experiences in organizing, and gender internalization is strong. The external factors includes that complicate problems of organising homebased workers is due to the sensitivity
issue of labour union and its activities. Moreover, among NGOs friends of homeworkers,
independent organization of women homebased workers is not yet in their understanding.
Thus the pace is necessarily slow.
Among NGOs, networking is not easy when each NGO has its own characteristics,
its own strength and weaknesses, as well as unique interest and vision, in dealing with
women homebased workers. The concept such as participatory, bottom up appioach,
gender sensitivity, to mention several, needs to be understood still.
Policy reform is not an overnight bussiness. Invisibility of the homebased workers
both statistically and blindness of the issue seems to be the main reasons. It needs political
will, as well as mind set to place priority on the women's side. Law reform for formal
recognition to homebased workers as 'tworkers" is no exeption. It involves People Representative Assembly for example, requires visibility on the part of the representatives.
9
Experiences indicates that advocacy & lobbying which has been carried out would
be futile with the rotation system/mutation system among government officials be it at the
provincial level or in the national level. Subordination on women in general, gender ideology internalization, having little knowledge on the importance to use Women Studies as the
underlying science to deal with women's issues, contribute to lack of ways to tackle the
problem properly.
With regards to socio-economic direct assistance, undoubtedly it is helpful, especially in the situation of poverty. It is not only to empower them economically. It also gives
them opportunity to learn the degree of exploitation by employer/sub-contractor/middleperson, as well as to find out proper piece rate for barganing. It is powerful because the
women homebased workers know it through their own experience.
Because of the nature of homebased workers, formal social insurance which in
theory supposedly possible for them is hard to materialize. So far, we only manage to
achieve the socalled indigenous social protection, applied only to the members of the
group. It means that the actual employers escape their responsibility to the social protection
issue.
Homeworking is a multifacet issue. For example in commuity based action, we
need to take culture into account. Culture also undoubtedly play roles. Different culture
would require different approach, as our experience in East Java has shown. Other point
that should attract our attention to handle the case carefully is the fact thatin different areas
there is different nature of employer-employee relationship and proxinities.
Practical guidelines is thus necessary not only for the sake of documentation of our
rich experiences, but more importantly is to share it with others for action purposes.
3. Follow Up Actions
The work is just begun. To ensure this project reach its ultimate goals, its needs to
be continued, be it at the grass roots level, at the NGOs level and at the Government level
both horizontally and vertically. These are the main actors in the future programme to
continue the present project.
To complete the future programme above mentioned, the future programmes should
include the following lists:
- advocacy and lobbying toward the ratification of Homebased Workers Convention and
policy reforms;
- Facilitating the organizing of women homebased workers;
- Employment promotion: small enterprise development
- Trainings (Gender awareness training, skill training, law literacy training, Assertive
training, campaign skill training, lobby/advocacy skill training, awareness training for
the employers/sub-contractors/middlepersons).
- Occupational Health Care programme
- direct assistance: - capital building
10
- publication: guidelines based on experiences
reports on the action experiences
- Networking:
at the level of the women homebased workers (Local/regional consolidation, visits,
campaign, HWPRI process toward legally accepted organization, national roundtable
meeting twice a year, Congress
At the NGOs'level (national roundtable meeting; Bulletin, Capacity building
As revealed during the national round table meeting among the NGOs in September
1996, action work which focused on self employment (or microentrepreneurship) turn out
to make social protection toward women homebased workers as defmed by the Homebased
Workers Convention misses the hit. This issue as well as gender sensitivity should receive
proper process of leveling off in the near future.
11
ILO - DANIDA
SUBREGIONAL MEETING
on : Statistics and Social Protection
of Women Home Workers
APINDO REPORT
By: R.A. SUMARTINI
27 -29 November 1996
Bangkok
Ref.no. 3706/DPP/03/XI/96
APINDO
REPORT BY APINDO
for presentation at the ILO - DANIDA Subregional Meeting
on Statistics and Social Protection of Homeworkers
27-2 9 November 1996, Bangkok
1. Introduction
It is with the greatest pleasure that APINDO herewith
takes
the opportunity for a presentation on a special
aspect of the social protection for women workers, at the
occasion of this auspicous gathering organished by ILO in
cooperation with DANIDA.
There could be a few different approaches to this. An
overall academical study on the subject which could be
most lengthy and unconsumable, or concentrating on special
aspects
which
could
be
also
of
practical
value
for
colleagues in other countries.
With this in mind, this presentation would be foqused
on the possibilities for a study on a specific area in a
restricted region.
This could be also considered as
a
concrete follow-up on the conclusion which were attained
at the ILO - APINDO Seminar on 14 December 1995 in Sa].a.
Qne-day Seminar in Sala
The
ILO-APINDO one-day seminar on
14
December 1995
well attended by 110 persons, was held at the Dana Hotel
(district) branch of
in Sala, organised by the local
APINDO.
1
The speakers were
Ms Lucy Lazo (ILO Bangkok) on
- Problems and needs of women home workers
Mr Amrinal B (Ministry of Manpower) on
Program
-
for
the
protection
legal
of
women
home
workers in Indonesia.
Mr Bambang Setiyadi (Muhammadiyah University) on
-
Women workers in home industries, welfare and rights
protection
Warto ("Sebelas Maret" University) on
- Importance of organisation for women home workers in
batik home industries in Mojolaban, Sukoharjo.
Imron Arsyad (Ministry of Women's Role)
- Improvement of welfare for women home workers
3. Conclusion on the Seminar
After
animated
discussions
enthousiasticly took part,
in
which, participants
the following conclusion was
formulated
The prevailing laws and regulations in the country are
not sufficiently in compliance with the needs for legal
protection for women home workers.
The
social-economic
conditions
of
the
women
home
workers is generally considered as below standard, and
therefore improvements are to be made.
The in-adequate system of relationship between women
home
workers
and
the
enterprises
providing
the
jobs/orders needs further review.
An impact of the low level of education and skills of
many women home
workers,
is
among
others
low work
productivity and low earning.
2
implemented for women
No social protection has been
home workers, including for the occupational safety and
health and for social security.
spite of different points of view, there was a
common desire for improvement of the protection for
In
alignment
women home workers, in
with their nature and
dignity as women.
4. Follow-up activities
on
Based
opinion
formulated, the Seminar arrived at the common
an
appeal
should
made
be
to
as
situation/condition
and
facts
the
all
related
that
government
agencies and private institutions / organisations and the
ILO as well, to undertake the following steps
A qualitative and quantitative survey on the working
conditions of women home workers, to collect data and
information
as input for the preparation of policies.
of
Assessment and preparation
and/or
laws
specific
regulations on industrial relations between Enterprises
and women home workers.
(job providers)
It
is also
suggested, that in the meantime, certain fragments of
the
on
regulations
and
laws
prevailing
industrial
relations could be implementated for Enterprises
(job
providers) and women home workers.
To organise women home workers for the attainment of
legal
protection,
social
work
security,
safety
and
health and others as deemed necessary.
To provide integrated
skills
training
organisations,
for
to
information
all
-
guidance
related
improvement
of
the
-
agencies
situation
and
and
as
mentioned.
3
e. To present and disseminate this conclusion and the
suggestions for follow-up action to related agencies
and organisations.
5. Recomendation
APINDO would
herewith at this gathering take the
opportunity and privilege to recomend to ILO, that speedy
the
for
be
undertaken
action
and
appropriate
materialisation of what has been concluded in the one-day
seminar in Sala.
the APINDO head office and the
district branch in Sala as well, with support from two
For
this
purpose
local universities, would with pleasure closely cooperate
with the ILO officers in Bangkok and Jakarta for an early
commence of the undertaking.
At the end of this brief presentation may I convey
warmest regards from APINDO on behalf of the 9217 member
companies,
to
the
distinguished
participants
and
the
dignitaries/officers of ILO present at this subregional
meeting.
Thank you.
Jakarta, November 1996
R.A. Sumartini
APINDO Participant to
the ILO' - Danida Seminar
-o
4
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF APINDO
(The Employers' Association of Indonesia)
The aims and objectives of APINDO are :
To unite and guide Employers, and to provide service for
their interests, in the field of Industrial relations and
manpower affairs, and in human resources development in
general.
1.
To create and to maintain peace and harmony in the field
of indus-trial relations and manpower affairs.
work
of
improvement
the
for
productivity as a means for the national development,
towards social-spritual-material welfare.
To
undertake
efforts
formulate conunon opinions in the implementation of
industrial relations and manpower affairs for Employers in
alignment with Goverment policies.
To
5
HISTORICAL B1.CKGROUND
On
31
January
1952
a
group
of
Indonesian
employers
undertook the establishment of an association under the
socio-economic
council on
(employers'
name of PUSPI
affairs). In view of the in-creasing number of issues, the
employers united themselves in the organisation as a forum
for communication and consultation with the objective of
of
resolving problems
in
the
same
steps
adopting
Employers, Workers and the Government. The organisation
was also needed to function as a channel for aspiration of
the employers to be heard by the Government and other
related
organisations.
Initially
the
organisation
was
centralised in the capital of the country, but with the
years it expanded its membership to all the provinces and
the industrial centres.
The name PUSPI was carried on up to 31 January 1985, when
at the national congress of the organisation held iT) the
city of Surabaya, unanimous decision was arrived at: to
alter name into APINDO (Asosiasi Pengusaha Indonesia, The
Employers' Asso-ciation of Indonesia).
Presently,
APINDO
is
the
unifying
organisation
for
Employers, participating in the establishment of social
welfare in the business community through integrated
Gov-ernxnent,
the
between
cooperation
Employers/enterprises, and Workers, within the frame-work
participation for the achievement of the
of active
national aims.
APINDO was recognized in 1975 by Decree of the Minister of
Man-power, and mandated by KADIN Indonesia (the Indonesian
Na-tional Chamber of Commerce and Industry), to represent
the Em-ployers on issues
related
to industrial relations
and manpower af-fairs.
The Head office of APINDO is in Jakarta, while in each of
led by
is
the organisations
provinces
respective provincial boards, and subsequently in
districts by the 179 district boards.
the
27
the
the
6
Annex 5
ILO-DANIDA Sixth Subregional Meeting
28 November 1996
WORKSHOP GUIDELINES
Expected workshop outputs
list of suggested guides for action to promote homeworkers' social protection
Organising, networking, lobbying and advocacy
Soeio-economic empowerment
Social protection
Capacity building
Ensuring sustainability of homeworkers' actions
Promoting tripartite involvement
list of what remains to be done at national level
what can employers do
what can trade unions do
what can governments do
what can non-government organisations do
list of what remains to be done at regional level
networking
intertrading
28 November 1996, Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Workshop Group A
Thailand
Indonesia
Philippines
Prani Obhasanond (GO)
Thatchai
Kamjom
Sugiarto (GO)
Rahayu Dahian
Josefmo Tones (GO)
Melinda Item
Rakawin (NGOs)
Phanomwan
Poonsap (or substitute)
Duangduen
Hesti Wijaya (NGO)
Astrid Dionisio
Maria Yohanista
Siti Romlah
Evelyn Cruz (NGO)
Maria Nebla
Demetilla Jabilles
Juliana Canta
Suvit Rawiwongse (TU)
Supot (ECOT)
Sumartini (APINDO)
Cedric Bagtas (TUCP)
Lutchie Arguelles (ECOP)
Expected output
4 List of what remains to be done at national level
what can employers do
what can trade unions do
what can governments do
what can non-government organisations do
4 List of what remains to be done at regional level
networking
1
intertrading
2
November 29, 1996
GROUP A
WORKSHOP REPORT
What remains to be done:
I. By the Government
A. On a national level
1. Policy
Translation of concerns in economic plans in implernentable and doable terms in law,
programs, and projects and services as a matter of national policy
Institutionalization within Government - set up the institutional arrangements in
government on a more permanent basis
2. Measures
Capacity-building - Homeworkers training in areas like labor protection, entrepreneurship,
management, and development; the basic strategy is to link-up with NOOs, trade unions, and
employers; training trainors among homeworkers, homeworkers organi75'tlOfl, trade unions,
employers, and other service providers as the support strategy
a. I Implementing Agency
a.la. Advocacy within the agency
a.lb. Internal awareness-building within the industry
a.lc. Skills (trade/vocational) training
1,. Financial support
b.l. Funding follow-up action after capacity-building
b.2. Provide loans for micro or small business of homeworkers
(Coverage of loans must be broadened)
Statistical Data
b.L Direction should be towards the institutionalization of the collection
of national data, on a more regular basis, of homeworkers
3
d. Social protection
Effective coverage of homeworkers in national social insurance
development of a welfare fund
Extending labor and legal protection in the
B. Networking & Intertradiiig on the regional level
of the Social Protection
Establishment of a Regional Center for the Promotion
Nations
of HomeworkerS to be funded by the Association of Southeast Asian
promoting the networking and
(ASEAN), with the principal responsibilitY of
organizationS.
intertrading among countries related and homeworkers
*so1jdating within the ministries through advocacy and awareness
*ILO Convention on Homeworkers
* Project proposal to be formulated, with ILO support
4
Ii. By the Employers and Trade Unions
Employer-Trade Union relations
* Strengthen employer-trade union relationships
*CopfljCtS should be avoided
* Initiate TRIPARTITE conferences
EmployerNGOTr
Union
to empower workers and
* Establish foundations or employers-trade unions group
increase their bargaining power
homeworkers
*Employerstrade union link-up with NGOs in assisting to
- in jncreasing/aSsuñflg jobs/income
skills upgrading
- in livelihood training program or
Interventions
must intervene for homeworker in training,
*NGOs, through the support of trade unions,
work for employers' support
organizing; networking, lobbying, & advocacy
Social protection of homeworkers.
*Socio..econ011lic empowerment of homeworkerS with
the support of employer-initiated
organizations, foundations, and other groups
Social awareness program
in creation of programs that will raise public awareness
Research & Development
*tiate conduct of study on the profile (life-situation) of homeworkers
*entjficatjOfl of suitable conditions of work
facilities
*IdentificatiOfl of applicable trainings and training
*Developmeflt of work standards
* Establishment of pricing guidelines
*ipact of globalization on homeworkers
Lobby for national legislation and regional
implementation of the ILO Convention
5
III. NonGoverflmd1tal Organizations
Data collection
horneworkerS/SUb0acto
* Lobbying, advocacy in statistics for
ILO Convention 0iihomeworkers
* Lobby
Translate
*publjsh
*Djssemjflate
*Socja.ljzatjofl
Awareness program
* To promote the program to bomeworkerS by NGOs,
* Through Mass Media
*With the help of the Academe
Government, Employers
Empowerment of bomeworkers
*Time & motion study on the degree of exploitation on
of contracts
* Gender sensitivity
homeworkeis by sub-contractors
Other NGOs & organizing "Friends of FEomeworkerS"
*atjop.1JglObat plan
*d..raising
*jpoatjonsharflg
*capacitybuildiflg
Social security
* Establish welfare ftind
*Lobby for a social security scheme for homeworkerS
0. SocioeconOmiC protection
* Provide training skills for alternative souces
*promote micrOeflterPtse
* Enhance access to credit
bwirs
*Widen market by conducting trade fairs,
*Export promotion
through NGOs & private channels
*Link..up with potential market
6
28 November 1996
WORKSHOP OUTPUT GROUP B
LIST OF SUGGESTED GUIDES FOR ACTION TO PROMOTE
PROTECTION
1.
HOMEWORKER'S SOCIAL
Organizing, networking, lobbying and advocacy
1. Leadership Training
Organizational maintenance
>
Study trip
>
Core group formation (meetings, brainstorming)
>
2. Strengthening of women homeworkers network thru:
>International homenet
>national
>
Regional
Industry based/focus
>
Print media, radiant TV
>
Vertically pushing the government to include:
Policy for formal and informal workers
>
Integration in trade unions-worksops, seminars, symposia, campaign
>
>
Employers
Include ILO provisions in government programs and services
>
Horizontally
Strengthen network/association
>
Formation of FRIENDS of WHW
>
Institutionalize data base on:
>
Incidence on homeworkers
Monitoring, validation and evaluation
>
Identify GO's, NGO's and business groups providing services
>
Directory
Accreditation,legaliZatiOfl of homeworkers organization
Institutionalize representatives in government agencies
II. Socio-economic Empowerment
I. Diversification of products
2. Expansion of markethg,partiCipatlofl in Ba7irs, showroom, , catalog,etc.
3. Quality control
7
Intensify skills training, marketing, value added products
Simplify requirements
Translate rules and regulations, policies and guidelines to local dialects
Institutionalize government representation
Documentation of success stories for replication and sharing
Establish a" One-Stop-Shop"
Ratification and adaption of ILO Convention on Homeworker
Promotion scheme from government (B01)
Provide special funds for training from government
Revise training program to suit the needs of homeworker
Proper government coordination-sensitivity of providing services
III. Social Protection
Intensify and strengthening of credit unions, coops, "arisan" and "paluwagan"
Strengthen health funds
Better working conditions (environment)
Integration of Occupational Health and Safety, reproductive health
>
Awareness on preventive health
>
Social funds, SSS (expansion of services to informal sector
Mortuary benefits
Intensify "Daxnayan"
>
Negotiate for contracts
Develop better insurance scheme-needs experts help
>
Allot government budget
Intensify campaign -(DOH)
Introduce the concepts of social security to government programs
VI. Capacity Building
Improve awareness of labor laws, gender and reproductive health
Trainingson:
Business and financial management
>
Organizational management
>
Skills development
>
Para legal trainings
>
Strengthen/intensify networks
Learn English for international community
Product clinic
Classify target groups>provide assistance ex. Small business
Attitudinal change (government,busineSS and society)
V, Sustainability
Strengthen network/association-SUPPOrt services -Friends of Homeworker
Strengthen social protection and linkage with government
NGO networks, international institutions
Commercial liaisons
>
8
Funding
>
Internal-intensify members contribution
-profit sharing, commission
External-government
support, allot certain %, NGO, International
>
Institutions to homeworker activities
Get institutional buyers/contracts
Patent Development
VI. Tripartite Promotion
Signing of Memorandum of Agreement-MOA
Institutionalization of Tripartite
Intensify national steering committee
>
> National
Regional
Local >
>
Representation in tripartite bodies
Intensify participation of business and private sector
Publicity of NGO', Go. And TU
employers and Homeworker cooperation
>International
9
LIST OF WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE AT NATIONAL LEVEL
What can GOVERNMENTS do?
A)
POLICY:
Economic Development Plans - must translate this in implementable terms
E.g.: I. Laws
2. Programs and Projects as a matter of
National Policy
a. 1.: Institutionalization within Government - set - up the institutional arrangements
in government in a more permanent basis.
B)
MEASURES:
B. 1.: Capacity Building
- Trainors Training (skills, labor protection,
entrepreneurship, management)
Implementing Agency
- A. Advocacy
Internal awareness building within the industry
Skills (trade / vocational)
* Basic strategy is to link-up with NGOS.
* Training Trainors among homeworkers, Homeworkers organization and other
service providers.
Financial Support
- Follow up action after capacity building
- Provide LOANS for MICRO or small business of
homeworkers (coverage of loans must be broaden).
Statistical Data
- Direction should be towards the institutionalization of
on a more regular basis, the collection of national data
of homeworkers.
B.4.: Social Protection
- 1. Social Insurance - effective coverage of
homeworkers in national social insurance.
2. Extending Labor and Legal protection.
** NETWORKiNG and INTERTRADrNG:
establishment of a center for the Promotion of the Social Protection of Homeworkers
to be funded by the ASEAN, with the principal responsibility of promoting the networking
and intertrading among countries related to homeworkers and homeworkers organizations.
10
ANNEX 6
HOME WORKERS:
HOW CAN THEY BE MEASURED IN HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS?
Experience from the Homeworker Surveys
in the Phillippines (1993) and Indonesia (1995)
by Adriana Mata Greenwood
Bureau of Statistics
Reliable and timely statistics are indispensable when designing, implementing and
monitoring social and economic programmes. Statistics of homeworkers are no exception.
Estimates on the number of homeworkers, their characteristics and how they behave across
points in time are essential when formulating policies on them. This is a new topic for
statisticians, however, and there is little experience on how best to capture them. In order to
gain some insights on the measurement of homework, two household surveys were carried out
in the Phillippines and in Tasiklalaya (Indonesia) in 1993 and 1995 respectively. The main
objective of these surveys was to test whether it was at all possible to identify the
homeworkers in a household survey setting, and if it was, to provide some initial estimates
on them. Since periodical information is required on these workers, another objective was to
study ways in which the measurement of homeworkers could eventually be incorporated in
on-going national household surveys.
This paper discusses the measurement methodologies used in. these two surveys,
notably the definitions they used and how they were applied in practice. Based on the
discussion, it proposes a set of criteria which could be considered when incorporating the
measurement of homeworkers in on-going periodical household or labour force surveys.
Why measure homeworkers in on-going household surveys
There are many advantages in incorporating the measurement of homeworkers in
periodical household surveys. First of all, it guarantees that homeworkers will be identified
regularly and consistently, thus providing reliable time-series on them. It also ensures a more
complete coverage of workers, in particular women workers. In surveys which identify
homeworkers through a listing operation (as in the surveys in Phillippines and Indonesia
mentioned above) persons who perform economic activities but do not identify themselves as
workers will tend to go unrecorded. More women workers will be in this situation than men,
because their main social task in society is to be housekeepers. They tend to see their
economic activities as an extension of their household chores, especially if they receive their
work from other members of their household (e.g. their husbands, fathers, even mothers) and
do not reap the benefits of their work. This weakness in the coverage of workers is reduced
when using labour force questionnaires, because they test for the types of activities which may
go unrecorded. Measuring homework in labour force surveys would also benefit from the
wealth of demographic and economic information conventionally collected in these surveys,
allowing not only to describe them thoroughly but also to study them in relation to other
groups of workers.
In turn, labour force surveys would benefit from measuring homework. The fact that
homework activities will need to be well captured will prompt the team responsible of the
survey to evaluate whether the current measurement of employment actually covers them. In
addition to the consequent improvement in the measurement of employment, it may also
stimulate the team to refine the current measurement of the other status in employment
categories. At present, the identification of the different statuses depends on respondents'
self-classification into a status category. It will be discussed below, however, that such
methodology tends to generate numerous response errors which are difficult to evaluate.
What definition to use: the international recommendations
Homeworkers have been defined for statistical purposes in the International
Classification by Status in Employment (ISCE-93), adopted by the 15th International
Conference of Labour Statisticians in 1993. They are termed "outworkers", and include
employed persons who work for - or supply goods or services to - an enterprise, and whose
place of work is outside the establishments of the enterprise. Outworkers may be in paid or
self-employment jobs. They will be in paid employment jobs when their remuneration is
independent upon the profits (or the potential for profits) derived from the goods and services
produced and when they do not make the operational decisions affecting their work.
Otherwise, they are in self.employment jobs. Persons in paid employment jobs may own part
or all of the tools, capital equipment or premises they use and may not be supervision by their
employer.
Homeworkers have also been defined for legal purposes in the Convention concerning
Home Work, adopted by the 83rd International Labour Conference in 1996. In this document,
homeworkers are defined in a more restrictive way, as persons who work for pay (i.e. are not
in self-employment jobs), who produce goods and services specified by an employer and
whose usual place of work is other than the workplace of the employer. Figure 1 below
compares the criteria used to define homeworkers by the ISCE-93 and by the Convention
concerning Home Work. It is clear that homeworkers, as defmed by the Convention, are a
subset of the "outworkers" defined by the ISCE-93: they are "outworkers" who have paid
employment jobs.
Figure 1. Criteria used by the ISCE-93 and by the Convention concerning Home Work to define Homeworkers
Criteria used by the ISCE-93
Criteria used by the Convention concerning Home Work
work for/supply goods or services to an enterprise
produce goods and services specified by an employer
place of work is outside the establishment of the
place of work is other than the workplace of the
enterprise
employer
can have paid employment or self-employment job
work for pay, is not a self-employed worker
2
The definitions used in Philippines and Indonesia and the way they were applied
Neither the definition used in the Philippines nor the one used in Indonesia conforms
strictly to any of the international defmitions. The survey in Indonesia defmed "home-based
workers"as persons in employment (i.e. persons 5 years or older who were at work or absent
from work during the reference week); who worked alone or with unpaid family workers (i.e.
are own account workers); and who worked at home, in the vicinity or in a "maldoon" (or
homeworker) centre. It distinguished home-based workers in paid employment jobs
(homeworkers) from those in self-employment jobs (home-based self-employment).
Homeworkers had no access to the market and were provided with the materials by the
employer or work provider. Home-based self-employed workers either had access to the
market or provided the materials themselves. In contrast, in the Phillippines, homeworkers
were persons in employment who produce goods and services for an employer or contractor;
whose place of work is other than the employers' home or establishment; who have no formal
employee/employer relationship but whose products will be accepted if specifications are met;
who are not supervised directly; and who may or may not provide their own materials.
The different definitions used in these two surveys probably reflect differences in
national circumstances and differences in the policy objectives. At this stage it is not possible
to expect countries to apply a common definition, especially because the measurement of
homework is still very experimental. However, it would be useful for countries to agree on
a common denominator, that could be extracted from their national definition of homework
for international reporting.
Both surveys used a similar measurement methodology. They both identified the
homeworkers in two phases. In the first phase households were listed and those containing at
least one homeworker were identified. In the second phase either all or a sample of
households identified in the first phase was visited again. Homeworkers were identified either
through a listing operation (in Indonesia) or the survey questionnaire (Phillippines) on the
basis of different number and types of questions. In both countries, a questionnaire was used
to obtain more in-depth information about either all homeworkers identified (Phillippines) or
about only a sample of them (Indonesia). The fact that the sample in Indonesia was selected
on the basis of the importance of the homeworkers' activities, as reported by the head of
household, and that the head of household is most probably a man, may have a significant
impact on the number of women workers selected.
Whatever the definition originally established for the survey, the application of the
defmition should conform to it. Neither survey did, however, as Figures 2 and 3 show. In
Indonesia, only one criterion was applied consistently in both phases to identify home-based
workers, namely, that the place of work should be outside of the employer's settings. The
other criterion, that workers should not engage employees, was only used to identify homebased self-employed workers. To distinguish homeworkers from home-based self-employed
workers, again only one criterion was used consistently in both phases (i.e., the provider of
materials). The other criterion (i.e., access to the market) was applied only in the first phase.
An additional criterion, not stipulated in the definition, was introduced for the first time in
the second phase (i.e. whether doing a "homework job" or not).
3
Similarly, in the Phillippines only two criteria were consistently applied. As in
Indonesia, one of them was the requirement that the workplace should be outside of the
employer's settings. The other requirement was that workers should produce goods and
services for an employer or coniractor. This we assumed was operationalised on the basis of
two criteria, namely that workers receive and deliver products to the firm or contractor. The
other criteria were either only applied in the second phase or only in the post-enumeration
survey. The post-enumeration survey, destined to evaluate an informal sector survey,
imposed the additional requirement that workers should be "self-employed" (in fact, they
mean probably, as in Indonesia, own account workers).
A significant weakness in the measurement methodology in both countries is that it
depends on the respondents' assessment of their own work situation. Respondents need to
classify themselves as doing "homework job" or not. They also need to classify themselves
as "self-employed" workers or another status category. But respondents (and interviewers as
well) may not understand or have the correct notion of what these terms actually mean, which
may lead to significant measurement errors. For example, respondents may not know that the
self-employed include persons who are employers, own account workers, unpaid family
workers or members of cooperatives. From the questionnaire formulation in the Indonesia
survey, it seems that the statisticians who designed the questionnaire did not know either, for
it can be deduced that by "self-employed" they meant "own account workers", i.e., persons
who work for themselves without regular employees. If the statisticians who designed the
questionnaire were not clear regarding the contents of this group, how can we expect the
respondents to give an unequivocal answer? Questionnaire formulations should avoid using
terms which may be misleading and as far as possible should avoid depending on respondents'
self-classification.
Figure 2. Criteria identified to define and measure homeworkers in the Phillippines
definition criteria
measurement criteria (second phase)
(2)
produces goods and services for an
employer or contractor
receive work from corporation/firm
or from individual contractor (Q4);
delivers products to client or
provider of work (Q1O)
measurement criteria (postenumeration survey) (3)
delivers product/service regularly to
customer or client (col. 13);
receives work from business
operator, contractor, regular supplier,
private/government finn, family
member (col.1O)
the place of work is other than the
employer's home or establishment
there is no formal
employee/employer relationship
usual place of work is not the
office/factory or the employer's
house/premises (Q3)
(col.l 1)
agreement or contract is verbal or
non-existent (Q6)
no direct supervision
may or may not provide materials
works elsewhere than in the
employer's place, office/factory
is not closely supervised (col.12)
materials and equipment may or may
not be given by provider of work
(Q8,9)
is not an employee (col.9)
Notes:
(1)
The measurement criteria used in the first phase are not available. Regarding the second phase, we
assume that these questions were used to identifS' home-based workers in the second phase. It was not
4
(2)
clear whether the criteria we have identified were those actually used in practice. Annex 3 shows the
form used.
we asswne that these questions were used to identii' home-based workers in the second phase. It was
not clear whether the criteria we have identified were those actually used in practice. Annex 4 shows the
form used.
A proposal
Although the two surveys differed in the criteria they chose to define and measure the
homeworkers, they have some points in common, which will be used in the following
paragraphs to draw up a list of recommended criteria. It would have been useful if the reports
had discussed the quality of the data collected. That not being the case, it is assumed here'
that the criteria applied did not cause major measurement problems. On the basis of the
international definitions of homework, two criteria are needed to identify the homeworkers:
they produce goods and services for a finn or contractor. The two measurement
criteria used in the Phillippines to operationalise this criterion can be used in future
surveys: homeworkers should receive their work from a firm or contractor and workers
should deliver their products to a client or provider of work.
their place of work should be outside of the establishments of the employer. The
measurement criterion used in the Phillippines and Indonesia alike can be replicated
in other surveys: homeworkers can work anywhere but in the employers'
establishments or house.
5
Figure 3. Criteria identified to define and measure homeworkers in Indonesia
defmition criteria
measurement criteria
First phase (I)
Second phase (2)
HOMEWORKERS
work at home, home vicinity or in
"makloon" centres
work at home, home vicinity or in
makloon centre (col.l2)
work at home, neighbourhood or
homeworker centre (col.13)
do not have employees
(3)
(4)
have no access to the market
receives work from others (col. 9)
is provided with materials by the
employer or work provider
does not own materials (col.l0)
is not responsible for supply of
major raw materials (col.10)
the person does homeworker job
(col.9)
HOME-BASED SELF-EMPLOYED
works at home or vicinity
works at home or vicinity (col.12)
works at home or neighbourhood
(col.13)
works alone or with unpaid family
workers
is not a homeworker (i.e. have either
access to the market or gets major
materials himselherself)
is self-employed or assisted by
family members (col. 11)
is self-employed or employer
helped by unpaid family workers
(coLl2)
does not receive work from others
(col.9) or owns raw materials
is responsible for supply of major
raw materials (col. 10)
(col. 10)
does not do homeworker job
(col.9)
Notes:
(1)
Annex I shows the form used.
we assume that these questions were used to identit' home-based workers in the second phase. It was
not clear whether the criteria we have identified were those actually used in practice. Annex 2 shows the
form used.
although the question exists (col.l 1) it was not requested to persons who received work from others or
who did not own raw materials, i.e., was not requested to homeworkers
a question was asked to detennine whether the person employed any worker (col. 11). However, the form
seems to indicate that it was not required to identit' a person as homeworker.
A third set of criteria can be used to distinguish persons in paid employment jobs from
those in self-employment jobs. In line with the guidelines set up by the ISCE-93 and slightly
modifying the measurement criteria used in Indonesia, the following criteria can be used in
other surveys: homeworkers in paid employment jobs can only sell their products to the
employer, do not provide their own materials and do not employ any employees nor work
with unpaid family workers homeworkers in self-employment jobs do at least one of the
above. The simpler approach of asking the workers themselves to situate their jobs in one
status category, is not recommended because, it was discussed earlier, it is bound to
significant response errors.
The resulting definition and operationalisation of the definition can be visualised in
Figure 4 below. It would require from three to six additional questions in a labour force
survey questionnaire.
6
Figure 4. Application of international definition of homeworkers
a
ISCE-93 criteria
measurement criteria
work for/supply goods or
services to an enterprise
receive work from corporation/firm or from a contractor
place of work is outside the
establishment
usual place of work is not the office/factoiy or the employer's house/premises
deliver work to corporation/finn or a contractor
can only sell the products to firm or contractor
has a paid employment job
materials are provided by enterprise/provider of work
has no regular employees and does not work with unpaid family workers)
can sell some of the products to third persons, or
has a self-employment job
provides own materials or
has regular employees or works with unpaid family workers
* **
7

Proceedings of the Sixth ILO-DANIDA Subregional Meeting on

Transcription

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