These are the home workers or outworkers. Investigations by the union have shown that in a number of cases, companies which employ about 6 factory workers, would contract work out to over 200 outworkers. Some of these outworkers in turn contract work out, engaging others to work for them. The longer the contracting chain, the greater the number of outworkers. Those at the end of the chain may receive very little payment for their services - often less than enough for family survival.
Abuse is common.
This can take the form of physical assaults, sexual harrassment and victimisation. One contractor paid a worker at a lower rate than others for the same work when it was discovered how desperate she was to be able to feed her children. He knew she would do the work, regardless of the rate of pay because her motivation was higher. Many are not paid at all, or are made to spend days without pay, correcting mistakes which originated in the cutting. They are threatened with losing their jobs if they do not conform.