COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy Study: Global Findings

Global Findings:

The COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy Study is a WIEGO-coordinated multi-city longitudinal study that assesses the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on specific occupational groups of informal workers and their households, with a focus on domestic workers, home-based workers, street vendors, and waste pickers. The Round 1 Global Summary presents the key findings of the first round of the survey and interviews—conducted in June and July 2020 (mid-year)—across 12 cities and accompanies Fact Sheets that provide city-level results in greater detail. A second round of field research was conducted in mid-2021 to measure the ongoing impacts of the crisis.

Long Economic Covid for Informal Workers July 2022.

English: Summary Infographic (PDF)

Español: Summary Infographic (PDF)

Français: Summary Infographic (PDF)

COVID-19 and Informal Work in 11 Cities: Recovery Pathways Amidst Continued Crisis July 2022. COVID-19 and Informal Work in 11 Cities: Recovery Pathways Amidst Continued Crisis. WIEGO Working Paper No. 43. Manchester, UK: WIEGO.

Summary Go to publication (PDF)

COVID-19 and Informal Work in 11 Cities – Executive Summary July 2022.

English: Summary Go to publication (PDF)

Español: Summary Go to publication (PDF)

Français: Summary Go to publication (PDF)

COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy: Round 1 Global Summary July 2021. WIEGO.2021.COVID-19 and the Informal Economy: Round 1 Global Summary. Manchester, UK: WIEGO.

Summary Go to publication (PDF)

COVID-19 and the Informal Economy: Executive Summary July 2021.

English: Summary Go to publication (PDF)

Español: Summary Go to publication (PDF)

Français: Summary Go to publication (PDF)

COVID-19 and Informal Work: Distinct Pathways of Impact and Recovery in 11 Cities Around the World May 2021. Chen, Marty, Erofili Grapsa, Ghida Ismail, Mike Rogan, Marcela Valdivia, Laura Alfers, Jenna Harvey, Ana Carolina Ogando, Sarah Orleans Reed and Sally Roever. WIEGO Working Paper No. 42

Summary Go to publication (PDF)

COVID-19 and informal work: Evidence from 11 cities - 26 June 2021.

Chen, M., Grapsa, E., Ismail, G., Rogan, M., Valdivia, M., Alfers, L., Harvey, J., Ogando, A.C., Reed, S.O. and Roever, S. (2021), COVID-19 and informal work: Evidence from 11 cities. International Labour Review. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1111/ilr.12221

This article presents the findings of a study in 11 cities across five geographic regions on the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on different groups of informal workers and their households. Four domains of impact are detailed: impact on work and income, food and hunger, care and other household responsibilities and on the coping strategies of informal workers households. The article also compares the role of government and of organizations of informal workers in providing relief and other support to informal workers and considers worker demands for a better deal for informal workers going forward.

External link behind paywall

Media Requests:

General: Media@wiego.org

Contact (English): Nicole Pryor, nicole.pryor@wiego.org or +64 27 239 2575 (NZT)
Contact (Spanish): Graciela Mora, graciela.mora@wiego.org or +506 8358 5592 (UTC/GMT -6 HOURS)

COVID-19 Crisis and the Informal Economy Study

Informal Economy Topic

COVID-19 Crisis

Global Advocacy

History, Debate & Policies

Language