Homeworkers in the local hosiery industry were told that their wages were to be reduced. Homeworkers are often employed in piece work. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. Protections for homeworkers were also improved, and housing provision was increased. The earnings of the embroiderers were generally quite good, especially for the self-employed homeworkers. Homeworkers do not own or operate the business they work for.