In doing some research for something completely different, I ran across an article that I couldn’t stop reading. It’s an online news source for the country of Pakistan and the article was about women who work from home.
According to this article, 65% of women who work in Pakistan do it from their home. However they have no protection from labor laws, no rights to minimum wage, and no Social Security benefits. They basically have nothing.
Most of the work they do is piece work, which they make very little money doing and are sometimes at risk of being exposed to hazardous conditions or materials. The work they do can barely feed them, let alone provide for any extras.
I read about their working environment and how they have to squint under poor lighting. Meanwhile I wear my fashionable eyeglasses and can choose from two different lamps for lighting.
They also find themselves in uncomfortable positions, bending and crouching for hours on end. Meanwhile I sit comfortably at my desk, in my massaging chair.
The good news, if you can find something to shed some bit of light on a bleak situation, is that the Labour Ministry is attempting to develop national policy that will benefit home based workers. It will hopefully not only give them more rights but enable them to take their skills further.
So why am I telling you about the working conditions of women in Pakistan? It is to remind myself and you that we are pretty fortunate here in the United States. We sometimes complain about the most inconsequential things. The internet is down or we can’t find a pencil anywhere.
I mean, we can get really worked up about these things. Heaven forbid my computer runs slow! Yet while my troubles seem so big, to these women, they would probably love to have the opportunities I have at home.
Let’s remember to appreciate what we have. Home based businesses are a blessing and they are even more so in a country where we have rights and privileges that aren’t always enjoyed in other countries.
Related Articles:
Is the Grass Always Greener on the Other Side?
When Your Passion Becomes Your Job
Photo by Khalid Mahmood in Wikimedia Commons