Pakistán - High level of informal and casual labour undermining union rights (2012)

Many employees work in the informal sector, which is characterised by insecure employment, harsh working conditions and absence of social protections. Labour in the informal sector is typically employed on a temporary, casual and contractual basis and can be retrenched at any time without any legal barriers. Informal sector labour is unable to organise in unions or lawfully challenge violations of occupational health and safety. Much of the country’s informal labour force works from home and are generally vulnerable to exploitation. This is a particular problem for women, since around 65% of the country’s estimated 8.52 million home-based workers are female.