Who are Home-Based Workers and Homeworkers?

Home-based workers are those who do paid work within their homes or the surrounding grounds. They produce goods for local or global value chains and are of two basic categories.

  • Self-employed home-based workers: -Assume all the risks of being independent operators.
  • Sub-contracted home-based workers (called homeworkers): - Are contracted by individual entrepreneurs or firms, often through an intermediary.

In both categories, these workers deal with low incomes, irregular and/or cancelled work orders, unreliable supply of raw materials, delayed payment, and rejected goods.

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Kisii Cluster: Mr. Jim Kenyanya training HBWs on Organizing
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Bungoma Cluster: HBWs during a training on access to rights.
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Nairobi Cluster: Mr. Gideon Teimuge in a group discussion with Heavenly Treasures Kenya affiliated artisans.
 

The Kenyan HBWs are to be found in the commercial crafts, textile and Garment Sectors; specialization inherent on raw materials and traditional skills.

The HBWs are spread across 6 cluster regions (Lodwar, Bungoma, Kisumu, Kisii, Nairobi & Machakos) and are organized as self-help groups, cooperatives and producer organizations.

 

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