Nothing for us without us!

Informal Workers

Organising Globally

Chris Bonner, WIEGOAWID Conference, November 2008

Global action-research-policy network : of individuals and organisations engaged in or concerned with informal employment.

Aims: to improve the visibility and status of the working poor, especially women, in the informal economy through increased organisation and representation, improved statistics and research, more supportive policies and inclusive policy processes

www.wiego.org

Women in Informal Employment:

Globalizing and Organizing

Workers in the Informal Economy

Streets, markets & open spaces

• Vendors

• Waste collectors

• Sex workers

• Transport workers

• Construction workers

• Roadside shoe shiners, hairdressers

Selling bikinis in Brazil

Driving pedicabs in Philippines Reclaiming waste in South Africa

Selling vegetables in Kenya

• embroiderers

• garment makers

• waste sorters/recyclers

• metal goods producers

• shoe makers

• coffin makers

In shops, workshops & yards

Sorting recyclable plastic in India

Embroidering in India

At home and in households

• Garment workers

• Craft producers

• Electronics assemblers

• Cigarette makers

• Toy makers

• Domestic workers

• Care givers

Sewing clothes in Bangladesh

Making “bidi” cigarettes in India

Cleaning house in Germany

Cleaning floors in Pakistan

In fields, forests and on water

• small farmers

• agricultural labourers

• shepherds

• forest gatherers

• fisher folk

• water transport workers

Picking tobacco in India

Ferrying passengers in Zambia

The Informal Economy

“All economic activities by workers and economic units that are – in law or in practice- not covered or insufficiently covered by formal arrangements”(ILO 2002)

Informal Workers

Self-employed workers: own account, family workers, members of informal coops

Waged workers: in informal businesses or jobs such as casual, seasonal, domestic, homework

Extent of informal work

Half to three quarters of non agricultural employment in

developing countries is informal:• 48% North Africa• 51% Latin America• 65% Asia• 80% sub-Saharan Africa (excluding SA)

Women and informal work

More than 60% of working women work informally.

Women are found in the most precarious and low

paying informal jobs

Informal Workers Organising

Why organise as workers?

• Visibility and recognition as workers doing a valuable job

• Rights as workers in law and practice:

to organise, to represent, to negotiate

for voices to be heard through collective power

for decent income, working conditions, social protection

• Collective economic activity • Empowerment: knowledge, experience• Solidarity

StreetNet International

• International Alliance of street, market vendors and hawkers • Affiliates: 30 from 27countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America• Women leadership: 50% leadership quota in its constitution• Activities:

organizinginformation and experience sharingtraining for empowerment e.g. negotiating skillssolidarity actionsrepresentation in international forums e.g. ILO, WSF

• Campaigns: World Class Cities for All

www.streetnet.org.za

 

Domestic Workers Network:Respect & Rights

• Network newly formed under the Global Union Federation, IUF • Open to DW unions and organizations, regional networks, NGOs• Steering committee : DW unions/organizations Asia, Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, North America• Activities:

organizing/network buildinginformation sharingadvocacy

• Campaigns:ILO Convention ( on the agenda 2010, 2011)

www.domesticworkersrights.org

Latin American Waste-picker Network

• Network: WP organisations from 12 countries • Base organizations are worker cooperatives. High percentage of

women• Working towards a global network, Latin America, Asia, Africa, CE

Europe. • LA Network activities:

organizing

promoting visibility and status

policy development

sharing knowledge and experiences

www.recicladores.net

“Combining our Efforts”Building a Movement

Support Organisations

Trade Unions

Informal Worker

Organisations

Social Movements and other organizationsWomen’s and Social Movements , NGOs etc