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 6 hours. If you are under 18, you are entitled to a 30-minute break after working 4 and a half hours
• to have 5.6 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, age and religion or belief.)
• 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 rights to:

• claim unfair dismissal if sacked without notice or good cause
• redundancy pay
• maternity, paternity and parental leave and to request flexible working
• paid time off for antenatal care
• a written statement of main terms and conditions of employment.