Home-based workers (HBWs) are workers who work from their homes and earn for survival and ensuring the financial stability of their households. The number of HBWs in Nepal is estimated to be around 2.2 million of which the majority are women. 

These Home-based workers usually belong to the poor, lower or lower-middle income backgrounds, are among the most unprivileged members of society, from various age groups, possess very little or no education at all. However, they accounts for 70% to 86% of Nepal's total employment in the non-agricultural sector. Despite their economic contribution, they have virtually no social protection due to lack of formal recognition by the government. More than 50 percent of the HBWs work almost seven days a week with no operational safety and health standards in their work area, and almost 50 percent of the them earns less than NPR 2000 (USD 20) in a week from home based works.

Up until today, the government of Nepal has made no law to govern these workers, to set the minimum wage standards nor defend their social security. Neither the informal sector workers have been properly assisted with labor inspection.

It is urgent for Nepal government to review it’s current national policies and make necessary amendments to promote equality of treatment between home based workers and other wage earners, mandates fair wages, provide them with the minimum labor standard, and mostly importantly, give them the recognition that they deserve.