ABOUT US

Now that you have seen the people we serve, here is some background information on HomeNet Thailand.

What is HomeNet Thailand?

HomeNet Thailand was officially established in June 1998. It is the coordinating centre of the network of homebased producers and homeworkers as well as concerned NGOs in the country.

We operate through regional networks of NGOs and homebased workers in the Northeast, the North and Bangkok. Each regional network has its own committee and an office with a regional coordinator who works part-time for HomeNet Thailand.

HomeNet Thailand provides the coordination at the national and international levels on policies and issues related to homeworkers. The national committee is composed of two representatives from each region.

Our Objectives

Very simply put, our overall mission is to consolidate, support, protect, and strengthen the identity and role of the homebased workforce in Thailand. Specific objectives are as follows:

To strengthen homeworkers’ capacities in production and management
- We organize skills training and other development activities for homeworkers.
To promote the homeworkers’ organization
- We coordinate and maintain a good network and organizational system.
To promote labour standards and social protection among homeworkers and home producers
- We have launched campaigns for homeworkers’ welfare in the areas of occupational health and safety as well as wages and social security.
To influence government policies in relation to the legal and social protection of homeworkers.
- We have made homeworkers visible in national statistics. The National Statistical Office (NSO) reported 311,000 homeworkers in a survey in 1999, a figure which it acknowledges is underestimated. A homeworkers’ policy (1997-2001) was included in the Eighth National Economic and Development Plan.
- HomeNet Thailand has also held dialogues with government officials, policy-makers, academicians, and international agencies in its role as homeworker policy advocate.

Whom We Serve

Own-account workers or home producers who are engaged in making home products, handicrafts, food processing, herbal products, etc.
Subcontracted homeworkers involved in the production of garments, artificial flowers, jewelry, leather products, etc.
Agricultural workers (contract farmers)

As of 2001, HomeNet Thailand worked with over 200 groups consisting of over 7,000 homeworkers and home producers. Thailand is estimated to have more than one million homeworkers so we still have many more people to reach and help.