WIEGO Blog

Governments, preoccupied with guaranteeing the availability of essential goods and services, compiled lists of essential activities that could continue operating during COVID-19 lockdowns. In 21 countries in Africa and 12 countries in Latin America, some form of informal food vending was designated as essential. As cases are rising again, national and local governments should take stock of the good practices and pitfalls that have emerged. But informal food vendors’ role as essential economic actors does not end with the pandemic.

"Nos mains de récupératrice·eur·s de matériaux ont rendu le monde meilleur." – Jaquelina Flores de l’Alliance mondiale des récupératrice·eur·s.

"C’est un travail. Il ne s’agit pas tout simplement de donner un coup de main à la maison." – Carmen Britez, vice-présidente de la Fédération internationale des travailleuses domestiques (FITD).

COVID-19 has exposed government inaction in extending dignity and fairness to informal economy workers in the most brutal way. Let’s take a look inside the policy toolbox governments have used to get workers through the COVID-19 crisis.

“Nuestras manos cartoneras han hecho del mundo un lugar mejor.” – Jaquelina Flores, de la Alianza Global de Recicladores.

“Esto es trabajo. No es solo darte una mano en casa.” – Carmen Britez, vicepresidenta de la Federación Internacional de Trabajadores del Hogar (IDWF).

Workers in the informal economy lost close to 80 per cent of their earnings as the pandemic took hold. This blog describes some of the most crucial issues workers faced during the pandemic, based on the interviews conducted for WIEGO’s COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy study as lockdowns were imposed worldwide.