Home Work Convention


Home Work Convention, created in 1996, is an International Labour Organization Convention, which came into force in 2000. It offers protection to workers who are employed in their own homes.

Overview

It was established in 1996, with the preamble stating:
The Convention provides protection for home workers, giving them equal rights with regard to workplace health and safety, social security rights, access to training, remuneration, minimum age of employment, maternity protection, and other rights.

Objectives of the Home Work Convention

The term home work means remote work done by a person in a place other than the workplace of the employer. The term employer describes a person, who, either directly or through an intermediary, provides home work in pursuance of his or her business.
Each member of the Convention aims the continuous improving the situation of homeworkers. The intention of the convention is to strengthen the principle of equal treatment, in particular to guarantee the establishment of the rights of homeworkers.
In addition, the convention has the specific purpose of protecting against discrimination in the following areas of employment: occupational safety, remuneration, social security protection, access to training, minimum age for taking up employment and maternity benefits.

Safety and health at work

National laws and regulations on safety and health at work also apply to home work. When working at home, certain conditions must be adapted so that a safe and healthy working environment is ensured.

Ratifications

The convention has been ratified by 13 countries as of 2024:
CountryDateStatus
Albania24 Jul 2002In Force
Antigua and Barbuda28 Jul 2021In Force
Argentina31 Jul 2006In Force
Belgium02 Oct 2012In Force
Bosnia and Herzegovina18 Jan 2010In Force
Bulgaria17 Jul 2009In Force
Finland17 Jun 1998In Force
Ireland22 Apr 1999In Force
Netherlands31 Oct 2002In Force
North Macedonia03 Oct 2012In Force
Slovenia14 Apr 2021In Force
Spain25 May 2022In Force
Tajikistan29 May 2012In Force