Some of the UK's 700,000 home workers could benefit from new proposals aimed at tackling abuse of minimum wage rules by employers.

The new rules should simplify the process and make it more difficult for employers to exploit home workers Linda Devereux, National Group of Homeworkers

Employers can legally pay home workers much less than the national minimum wage.

The government wants all home workers to receive the combination of the national minimum wage and a "fair piece rate" for each item made.

Of the 700,000 plus home workers in the UK, the National Group of Homeworkers estimates that 92% are women and as many as 50% are from an ethnic minority.

Four-fifths rule

The current rules mean that homeworkers can be legally paid four-fifths of the national minimum wage.

Minimum wage

Main (adult) rate for workers aged 22 and over: £4.20 per hour Development rate for workers aged 18-21 inclusive: £3.60 per hour

The government is now proposing to scrap this rule.

One idea up for consideration is to pay the national minimum wage up to an "average" rate it takes to make the goods, and then a set "piece" rate for any time spend making them after that.

Director of the National Group of Homeworkers, Linda Devereux, said: "We welcome any changes that make it easier for home workers to work out whether their piece rate equates to the minimum wage.

"The new rules should simplify the process and make it more difficult for employers to exploit homeworkers."