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. Over the past 10 years the number of home-based outworkers has increased signifigantly. Industry has become increasingly globalised. In Australia tariff reductions and increased monopoly by large retailers have contributed to the closure of factories and the shift to below award paid homeworking as a cheap option for the industry.
Factories now advertise for machinists to work from home.
By not having a full time workforce, and by paying below the award wage, it is possible to employ 3 to 4 homeworkers for the price of one award-paid factory worker. Needless to say that homeworkers are not covered by Workcare and get neither holidays nor superannuation and no sick leave. The fact is, they continue to do it because its often the only work they can get. And many believe it is better than being on social security. Even so, some homeworkers are forced on to social security benefits because they don't earn enough from their outwork to survive.