Impact of COVID-19 National Lockdown on Women Home-Based Workers in Delhi

ILO has predicted that economic disruptions caused by the pandemic have the potential to render the already vulnerable informal workers into deeper levels of poverty and deprivation. Despite this, there has been little to no urgency by state actors to extend protection and security to these workers. Rather, many states have dismantled existing labour protection laws in a bid to inflate capital inflow and growth. Those schemes which have been announced so far only cover a miniscule section of registered construction workers through direct cash transfers. On May 12, PM Modi announced an economic stimulus under the “Self-reliant India Mission” specifically targeting unregistered informal workers such as street vendors, construction workers and domestic workers. However, home-based workers, a significant category within India’s most vulnerable informal sector workers, have universally remained invisible even now. According to some studies, the COVID-19 crisis has left many home-based workers with no work, income or future hope for earnings. This brief presents data on the impact of COVID-19 disease and the national lockdown on home-based workers.