National Group on Homeworking

Resources

Welcome to the resources area. Whilst some files are available for anyone to download, some are restricted to NGH members only. Files that are 'greyed-out' only become available when logged in as a member. Already a member? - go to the member login. Want to become a member? - Register online today. If you need it, get Adobe® Reader® here.

Leaflets

• How To Look For Homework and Not Lose Money
  496.3 KB PDF document
  This booklet is intended as a guide to help those looking for homework and avoid losing money. It is not a list of companies which employ homeworkers. This booklet gives general guidance about where to look and how to try and identify companies in your area who may use homeworkers.
• A Practical Guide to Dealing with Misleading Adverts and Bogus Homeworking Schemes
  197.0 KB PDF document
  This booklet gives advice to people who have lost money to a bogus homeworking scheme.

Fact Packs

• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 1 - The National Minimum Wage
  107.3 KB PDF document
  Everything you need to know about the national minimum wage and how it applies to homeworkers.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 2 - Keeping Records
  146.9 KB PDF document
  It is essential to keep records if you want to make a complaint about non-payment of the national minimum wage.
• Keeping Records
  20.3 KB PDF document
  You can use this sheet to help you to keep a record of how much work you do and how long it takes you. You need this information to work out if you are receiving the national minimum wage.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 3 - Enforcing Your Right to the National Minimum Wage
  105.1 KB PDF document
  There are a number of things you can do if you decide you want to enforce your right to the national minimum wage. This fact sheet will help you decide which option may be best for you.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 4 - Paid Holidays
  122.5 KB PDF document
  Since 1998 nearly all homeworkers have had the right to 4 weeks paid holiday per year.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 5- Employed, Worker or Self-Employed?
  135.5 KB PDF document
  The question of employment status is possibly the most crucial for a homeworker. It is also one of the most difficult questions to answer. This fact sheet will help.
• Sample Terms and Conditions of Employment
  30.9 KB PDF document
• Homeworkers Fact Sheet 6 - Sick Pay
  127.0 KB PDF document
  You may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay if you cannot work due to illness. Read this fact sheet for more information.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 7 - Maternity Rights and Parental Leave
  168.3 KB PDF document
  Information on your rights if you or your partner are pregnant, have given birth or have adopted a child.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 8 - If your work stops, is it redundancy?
  106.9 KB PDF document
  In some situations homeworkers can claim redundancy pay if their work stops. This fact sheet gives information about how to claim.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 9 - Health and Safety
  90.8 KB PDF document
  This fact sheet gives a basic guidance on health and safety for homeworkers.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 10 - Insurance
  88.4 KB PDF document
  Homeworkers need to be covered in the event of an accident or injury, and also need to make sure their equipent and working materials are insured.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 11 - If your work stops, is it dismissal?
  97.3 KB PDF document
  This factsheet gives information on your rights if your work is stopped.
• Homeworkers' Fact Sheet 12 - Tax, NI and Expenses
  97.0 KB PDF document
  Infomation about Tax and National Insurance for homeworkers who are employed and self-employed, information about homeworker expenses and tax credits.

Briefing papers

• Homeworking in Britain
  62.5 KB PDF document
  This briefing paper gives an introduction to the nature of homeworking in the UK and the issues facing homeworkers.
• Trade Unions
  71.7 KB PDF document
  Homeworkers are arguably the least protected section of the workforce. The issue of labour rights for homeworkers should be an issue for all trade unions committed to working for rights at work.
• The International Convention on Homeworking
  285.4 KB PDF document
  The case for UK ratification of the ILO Convention 177 on Homework.
• Better Enforcement
  66.2 KB PDF document
  Why and how improved enforcement of employment law would help protect homeworkers.
• Telework
  84.6 KB PDF document
  The expansion of information and communications technology, the internet and broadband, has resulted in more people being able to work from home. This briefing paper outlines the change in working practices, .
• Employment Status
  88.3 KB PDF document
  Many homeworkers lack clear employment status, and this leads to them being denied basic rights like holiday pay, sick pay and even the minimum wage.
• Women and Ethnicity
  95.5 KB PDF document
  How labour market discrimination limits employment options.
• Health and Safety
  63.2 KB PDF document
  The hidden hazards of homeworking.
• Gender
  314.7 KB PDF document
  The paper examines why homeworking is a largely female occupation, and why women are undervalued in the labour market.

Reports

• Homeworking in Britain: Flexible Working or Exploited Labour?
  940.0 KB Word document
  In this report by Lucy Brill, NGH summarises the key findings of a research study of UK homeworkers' working conditions in 2004. It provides detailes evidence that demonstrates that homeworking not only provides an important source of flexible labour that is used by UK companies that supply major supermarkets, but also that this type of employment provides vital income for many people who would find it difficult to work outside the home.
• Equal Rights = Employment Rights
  1.1 MB PDF document
  This report explains the reasons behind our campaign to secure employment rights for homeworkers. Find out what is wrong with the law at present and what changes we want to see to grant equity and justice to homeworkers.
• Subject to Status - An investigation into the working lives of homeworker in the UK
  777.4 KB PDF document
  This report examines the terms and conditions of UK homeworkers, and reveals that many continue to be denied basic rights because their employment status is unclear.

Other Resources

• Campaign letter - ILO Convention on Homework
  24.5 KB Word document
  NGH is campaigning for ratifcation of the ILO Convention on Homework in the UK. This would give homeworkers equal treatment with other workers. To help our campaign please write to your local MP urging them to sign up to Early Day Motion 1123 which supports the Convention.

NGH Order forms

• NGH Publications Order Form
  20.2 KB PDF document
  A list of NGH publications and prices

Postcards

• National Minimum Wage Postcard - Urdu
  470.9 KB PDF document
• National Minimum Wage Postcard - Punjabi
  477.7 KB PDF document
• National Minimum Wage Postcard - English
  431.6 KB PDF document

Consultation responses

• Health and Safety Review Nov 2007
  36.5 KB Word document
  This is our response to a review of how health and safety laws are regulated. We call for clearer guidance for employers on their obligations to the homeworkers who work for them. We also suggest that homeworkers are a particularly vulnerable group in terms of health and safety and targetted enforcement in this area could be beneficial.
• NMW Enforcement 2007
  52.0 KB Word document
  We support proposals to introduce tougher penalties for employers who under-pay the national minimum wage. We also support proposals to ensure payments for workers who have been underpaid are calculated more fairly.
• Resolving Disputes in the Workplace 2007
  41.2 KB RTF document
  This is our response to the government's consultation on dispute resolution procedures. We welcome the suggestion that the current overly complex rules should be repealed. However, the most common problem facing homeworkers in any dispute is the question of their employment status. Until this is resolved, and homeworkers receive full employment rights, homeworkers will continue to face injustice at work.
• Pensions Submission 2006
  31.1 KB RTF document
  This is our response to the Department for Work and Pensions ‘Security in Retirement: towards a new pensions system’ paper. We are pleased that many more women will be able to receive the basic state pension, but we are concerned that unclear employment status and very low earnings mean many homeworkers will continue to be disadvantaged.
• Low Pay Commission National Minimum Wage Consultation 2006
  52.8 KB RTF document
  This is our response to the Low Pay Commission investigation into how well the National Minimum Wage is working. We highlight the issues of concern to homeworkers, and suggest ways the enforcement of the NMW could be improved.
• Competition Commission Supermarkets Inquiry
  11.4 KB RTF document
  The Competition Commission is undertaking an investigation into supermarkets. We are concerned at the impact supermarket purchasing practices are having on workers worldwide, including UK homeworkers. This is our letter to the Competition Commission outling the issues we want them to consider as part of their investigation.
• Implementation of increase in holiday entitlement
  31.0 KB Word document
  This is our response to the 2007 DTI consultation on how the increase from 20 to 28 days statutory paid holiday should be implemented.
• Agency Workers Consultation
  51.3 KB RTF document
  This is our response to the DTI's Protecting Vulnerable Agency Workers consultation. We point out that homeworkers have many issues in common with agency workers - in particular the fact that they are denied equal access to employment rights.
• EU Green Paper on Labour Law
  65.5 KB Word document
  This is our response to the European Commission's Green Paper which looks at how to deliver both 'flexibility' and 'security' at work.
• Social Policy Taskforce submission on the 2008-11 National Action Plan on Social Inclusion
  383.0 KB Word document
  The Social Policy Taskforce has produced a document outlining the key issues the government ought to consider when preparing its National Action Plan on Social Inclusion.