People working from home need better protection: ILO.

ISLAMABAD -- The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says those working from home, and whose number has greatly increased due to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, need better protection.

In a report, 'Working from home, from invisibility to decent work', ILO says since working from home occurs in the private sphere it is often 'invisible'.

In low and middle-income countries, almost all home-based workers (90pc) work informally. They are usually worse off than those who work outside the home, even in higher-skilled professions.

The report estimates that prior to the Covid-19 crisis, there were about 260 million home-based workers worldwide, representing 7.9pc of global employment; 56pc of them - 147 million were women.

People working from home also face greater safety and health risks and have less access to training than non-home-based workers, which can affect their career, warns ILO report.

The report also shows that they do not have the same level of social protection as other workers enjoy.

They are also less likely to be part of a trade union or to be covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

They include teleworkers who work remotely...