No Cushion to Fall Back On – Executive Summary
Much has been said about the impact of the global economic crisis on those employed in the formal economy while its impact on those employed informally – in enterprises and as wage workers – has received little or no attention. Individuals working within the urban informal economy in most developing countries are among the world’s poorest people, often earning less than USD 2
a day. To address the gap in information about the impact of the crisis on the working poor, WIEGO and partners undertook the Global Economic Crisis study on the impact of the crisis on home-based workers, street vendors, and waste pickers.
The research shows that informal enterprises and informal wage workers are affected in many of the same ways as formal firms and formal wage workers. Informal workers suffer directly and indirectly from shrinking consumption and declining demand crucial to their livelihoods. Informal wage workers are often the first to be laid off – before those with formal contracts. Informal
enterprises and informal wage workers face increased competition as more people enter the informal economy and/or as more and more jobs are informalised.
Report available in English here.
Informe disponible en español aquí.
Fact Sheet available in English here.
Ficha Técnica disponible en español aquí.
Executive Summary available in English here.
Sumário Executivo disponível em português aqui.
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