Organizing & Organizations
“Not being organized is one of the biggest poverty indicators. The first step out of poverty is organization. Organizing allows us to become social actors ... we can engage in stable transactions, build convergence of interests and access social protection.”
Bernardo Toro, presentation at the March 2008 international conference on waste pickers in Bogota, Colombia
Informal workers are increasingly recognizing the need to unite into larger organizations to increase their visibility, voice and power. Organizing gives the poorest segments of the working class – those working in the informal economy, and especially women – a means to be heard by decision makers who have the power to affect their lives.
This section of the website is divided into two sections:
Organizing in the Informal Economy
Organizing informal workers has a long history, but in recent years the pace and scope has increased around the globe. There are many challenges, but the benefits of organizing are great, and increasingly there are success stories of improved lives and livelihoods from all global regions. Read more.
Organizations
Informal workers are increasingly recognizing that combining forces can amplify their visibility, voice and power. Their local organizations are doing this by uniting into federations and networks nationally, regionally and globally. Read more.
