What basic rights do most homeworkers have?

All workers are entitled to some basic rights at work, and as a homeworker you will generally be entitled to the following rights from the day you start:

• to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW);
• to refuse to work more than 48 hours a week (unless you sign an agreement saying that you are willing to work longer hours);
• to have a rest break of 20 minutes where your working day is longer than six hours. If you are under 18, you are entitled to a 30-minute break after working four and a half hours;
• to have four weeks’ paid annual leave;
• to health and safety protection;
• to protection from discrimination (you have the right not to be treated less favourably by the employer on the grounds of sex, pregnancy, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief. From 2006 onwards, it will also be against the law for employers to discriminate against workers and job seekers because of their age.);
• to join a trade union of your choice.

Some important employment rights are only available to those who are classed as ‘employees’, and therefore don't apply to most homeworkers. These include:

• the right to claim unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal, if you feel you are sacked without notice or good cause (and if you have worked for the same employer for a continuous period of one year*);
• the right to redundancy pay (if you have worked for the same employer for a continuous period of two years);
• the right to take maternity, paternity and parental leave and to request flexible working;
• the right to paid time off for antenatal care; and
• the right to a written statement of main terms and conditions of employment, including pay, hours, job description, notice period, and details of disciplinary and grievance procedures.