McCormick+Schmitz Handbook for value chain research on - PACA

Figure 12.3 : Sub-contractor network of small manufacturer
2
1
1
1 7 NE
2
2
2
4
2
3
2 NE
2
1
1
PL 40
3
7
15
NE
2
5
NE 5
?
?
Note:
The numbers in the circles refer to the number of workers in each establishment. ‘NE’ means not
working exclusively <strong>for</strong> PL in the month of the interview.
13. Learning from home-workers
In Chapters 11 and 12 we asked what useful in<strong>for</strong>mation we can obtain from buyers and
from manufacturers and we showed how to go about it. This chapter focuses on the
home-workers as a source of in<strong>for</strong>mation and draws attention to some of the special
problems that arise when interviewing producers who are often not registered and operate
under precarious circumstances.
13.1 Comparisons
The purpose of this chapter is not to show how to document in detail the on-going
struggle of home-workers. In fact, we advise against describing in detail their
circumstances. There are already are numerous studies from different parts of the world
which show similar findings (references to be added): these workers are often tied to their
home in order to care <strong>for</strong> children or the elderly; the volume of paid work varies
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