ETI Model for Homeworkers in India

Lead Partner: Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)
Project Partners: Maniben Kara Institute, The National Homeworkers Group
Project Location: India (New Delhi)

Project Description

Homeworkers are the backbone of the Indian garment industry. Yet because of their informal status in the economy, they are particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Low wages, irregular work, lack of social protection, high rates of occupational injury, lack of access to training and information about rights and entitlements and weak bargaining power have all been identified as major concerns for these workers.

This project seeks to drive improvements to the lives of homeworkers in three regions in India: Bareilly, New Delhi and Sangham Vihar.

Focusing on particularly vulnerable homeworkers and migrant workers, it aims to:

• create and test a scalable and replicable model of organisation and training for homeworkers in the Indian garment industry;
• create a sustainable partnership able to implement the organisation and training model in and beyond Delhi and Bareilly.

The outcomes that ETI and its partners aim to achieve include:

• Some 5,000 homeworkers being more aware and better able to enjoy their labour rights, resulting in increased earnings.
• Better health for 3,000 homeworkers in Sangam Vihar.
• Increased understanding of ethical trade by 5,000 homeworkers and contractors in Sangam Vihar and Bareilly.
• The creation of a fully tested and evaluated organisation model, which will help to improve the working conditions of homeworkers in India.
• Training tools developed, refined and disseminated by a multi-stakeholder group.
• Improved training and management abilities of key partners including the National Homeworkers Group (NHG), Maniben Kara Institute and Hind Mazdoor Sabha), ready for the model to be rolled out across India through the successful implementation of this project.
• Increased ability of local trade unions and other civil society organisations to support improvements in the working conditions of homeworkers in and beyond Delhi.