My name is Jane Tate and I am the international coordinator of HomeNet, the international network of homebased workers. HomeNet is a network of organisations of homebased workers in both the North and South.
Homebased workers are usually women and are among the poorest of women workers.
They are generally invisible, unrecognised and outside formal systems of employment protection, social security and trade union organisation. Since the majority of homebased workers are women, HomeNet is concerned with the six strategic objectives outlined by the Working Group. It used to be thought that homebased work, along with other forms of informal employment, was old-fashioned and would die out as economies 'modernise'. HomeNet aims to build links between grassroots organisations so that they can exchange experience on organising and how to improve conditions for homebased workers. Women-Economy is hosted by WomenWatch, United Nations.