New forms of Collective Bargaining: Adapting to the informal economy and new forms of work

Abstract:
This article analyses the limitations of existing collective bargaining structures in the context of increased informalization of livelihoods. This article draws upon the author‟s experience of organising in South Africa as well as the experiences of SEWA in India. It is argued that a challenge for trade unions is to organize people who have no legal recognition as workers. Therefore, these kinds of organizing initiatives should start from an effort of those in the informal economy to establish their status as workers. After self-organizing, alliances can be built between the formal and informal workers‟ organizations.
One of the key issues in organizing in the informal economy is the difficulty of establishing lasting structures that support collective bargaining. One of the obvious reasons for this is the common lack of a direct employer to bargain with. Negotiations often take place with local government on an ad hoc basis. However, without clear forums for these kinds of negotiations, the decisions made are not always acted upon, and sustainable policy agendas are not achieved.