Informal Workers Around the World - Bangkok, Thailand - Images of Empowerment

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Aurapin Sakvichit ( R) poses with Areewan Rotsattra(C) and Suwana Panpruk showing their clothing for sale at a local market. She has worked as a garment home-based worker for decades. She normally distributed her work to fellow home-based workers living in Nong Chok and Minburi districts. Suggested by HomeNet Thailand two years ago, a member-based organization of informal workers, home-based workers officially registered themselves as a garment home-based worker group to get access to entitlements including soft loans provided by the Ministry of Labour. Currently they have joined other home-based garment worker groups under HomeNet Thailands Informal Worker Association to establish a garment cooperative. As legal entity, the cooperative has broadened the home-based workers opportunity to get work orders, and more importantly, strengthen a union of home-based workers. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)