There are few official statistics of homeworkers in the UK, however the Labour Force Survey in Spring 2005 found there were around 3.1 million homeworkers in the UK, LFS found that this had risen from 2.3 million in 1997. Many of these homeworkers are women and approximately 600,000 women are engaged in various manufacturing processes involving the assembly, packing and making a diverse range of goods and products such as greetings cards, assorted gift packs, stationery items, gift wrap and tags, hosiery and socks, clothing, cosmetic and beauty items destined for sale in supermarkets and high street retailers.

Homeworkers are undoubtedly one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups, often facing conditions that fall far below minimum standards laid down by International and national labour law. However, for many, homework can be decent work providing a much-needed income, by offering a way to combine earning a living with a particular domestic situation, such as caring responsibilities for small children or elderly relatives.

Although supermarkets do not employ homeworkers directly many of their suppliers do. Suppliers to supermarkets are located both in the UK and abroad but many everyday products and items sold in supermarkets are made, packaged and assembled by homeworkers here in the UK. The National Group on Homeworking became aware, for example, that within the cracker sector, retailers were increasing pressure on suppliers by moving orders to other manufacturers, or threatening to remove order. The withdrawal of orders by a major retailer or supermarket can have devastating consequences for suppliers, and also for the homeworkers working for the suppliers. Manufacturers are being forced to constantly find cheaper and cheaper ways of manufacturing products: one way is to pay the workforce below the National Minimum Wage, and to avoid fulfilling employment rights; another way is to relocate production overseas.

For more information please see the following reports:

• Bang Out of Order! Rights & Respect for UK Homeworkers: The NGH Christmas Campaign, The National Group of Homeworkers 2005 - The NGH launched the "Bang out of order" popular campaign calling for improved Rights and Respect for UK homeworkers, in the run up to Christmas 2004. The campaign, a result of 3 years of frustration in trying to engage the major retailers in discussions, focused on lobbying government on issues including proper enforcement for the National Minimum Wage and entitlement to holiday pay, ratification to the ILO convention 177 on homework, and a revision of Employment Status giving clarification for homeworkers.
  
• UK Case Study: Homeworkers in the UK, Oxfam and the National Group of Homeworkers 2003 -This report illustrates the precarious employment conditions facing homeworkers in the manufacturing sector in the UK, and provides policy recommendations to improve their working lives and employment rights. A case study of homeworkers engaged in cracker assembly and packing, because of recent intensive work undertaken by NGH with a group in South Wales who have asserted their right to the National Minimum Wage.
  
• Homeworking in Britain: flexible working or exploited labour? The National Homeworkers Group 2004 - This report aims at pushing retailers to take greater resposibility for working conditions experienced by homeworkers, including in the UK. It provides evidence to demonstrate that homeworking is an important source of flexible labour, which also provides vital income for many people who would find it difficult to work outside the home.

Unfortunately the National Group on Homeworking closed in November 2008.