About Us

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Rallies and Demos

We organize impactful rallies & demonstrations to demand fair labor rights, equitable wages, & improved working conditions for home-based women workers across Pakistan

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Union Registration Support

Assists home-based workers in forming & registering unions, empowering them to collectively negotiate for their rights & benefits with employers and authorities.

Training & Advocacy Programs

Through specialized training and advocacy initiatives, we educate workers on labor laws, safety standards, and strategies to amplify their voices and drive policy changes

About

The Home Based Women Workers’ Federation (HBWWF) , is a labor organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of Pakistan’s home-based women workers in the textile, garments and glass bangles industries. Founded by Zehra Khan, who continues to serve as general secretary, HBWWF emerged from a 2005 research project that revealed the hidden exploitation of women workers who form a crucial yet unrecognized part of Pakistan’s economy and global supply chains..

Our Mission

We work to transform the lives of home-based women workers by:

Securing legal recognition and rights for home-based workers

Fighting for fair wages and safe working conditions

Advocating for universal social security coverage

Addressing gender-based discrimination and workplace harassment

Building collective power through worker organization and education

Connecting local struggles to global labor movements

Our Journey

What began as door-to-door organizing in Karachi has grown into a federation that has achieved landmark victories for workers’ rights. Through persistent grassroots organizing and strategic advocacy, we have

Successfully campaigned for the historic Sindh Home Based Workers Act of 2018

Secured minimum wage notifications for home-based workers

Contributed to the Pakistan Accord for workplace safety

Secured minimum wage notifications for home-based workers

Developed worker education programs on wage calculation and labor rights

Advanced proposals for universal social security coverage

Our Approach

HBWWF understands that home-based workers face multiple, intersecting challenges. Therefore, our holistic approach:

Combines labor rights advocacy with community organizing

Addresses both workplace exploitation and social, political and civic issues affecting workers

Builds women's leadership and collective decision-making power

Engages in policy advocacy while maintaining grassroots connections

Links local organizing with transnational labor solidarity

join us and become a member

The struggle for home-based workers rights continues. Despite significant victories, many of our hard-won legal protections still await full implementation. We invite workers, allies and supporters to join us in building worker power and advancing toward our vision of dignity, justice and full rights for all home-based workers.

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      Becoming a member

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      Contributing to our movement