Fuel crisis: How home-based workers of Pakistan are impacted

Have the fuel hikes and electricity disruptions led to lower work availability for HBWs?

Rising fuel prices have significantly increased transportation and raw material costs, disrupting supply chains. As a result, many home-based workers (HBWs) are facing irregular work orders and reduced production demand. Moreover, delays in the timely placement of orders, coupled with frequent electricity disruptions, further hinder HBWs’ ability to complete their work efficiently. These challenges ultimately affect their productivity and lead to a decline in per-piece earnings.

Are workers facing decreased wages, denial of wages or any other problems in this situation?

Yes, fuel and electricity disruptions have led to decreased work opportunities. Some of the HBWs report reduced wages, delayed payments, and in some cases partial or complete denial of wages by contractors.

Since family members are working from home, due to school, factory and office closures, how are home-based workers adapting to this with their current work load?

With family members at home due to school, factory, and office closures, home-based women workers (HBWs) adapt by working late nights, enlisting relatives for childcare, prioritising key tasks, and using community networks. Yet, this places additional burden on their productivity, mental health, and well-being amid added household chores and children's care.

Have local governments offered any support to informal workers in your country?

No, local governments have not provided any meaningful or targeted support to informal workers, particularly home-based workers (HBWs). The local government system in the province of Punjab remains largely non-functional, further constraining service delivery and institutional responsiveness. One of the primary challenges is that HBWs largely remain unrecognised in official government records and systems, which limits their access to social protection and economic support mechanisms. Although a legal framework for home-based workers exists, its implementation remains weak due to the absence of clear rules of business and operational guidelines, resulting in their continued exclusion from formal policy support and institutional assistance.