Organising the Informal Economy: Results and Prospects. The Case of Ghana in Comparative Perspective

Abstract:
This chapter analyses the challenges and prospects of trade union organising in the informal economy by looking at three case studies in Ghana, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the StreetNet Ghana Alliance (SGA), and the National Inland Canoe Fishermen‟s Association (NICFA). The GPRTU is a registered trade union organising mainly in the informal transport sector. It organises vehicle owners, owner/drivers, employed professional drivers, porters, and lorry guards. It is thus an organization for both employers and employees. It provides members with unemployment relief, provides work, and settles disputes between employees and employers. The GPRTU also collects taxes for the authorities from informal operators. The SGA is supported by the Ghana Trades Union Congress. It functions as an umbrella organization of informal traders‟ associations. It has organised around health, insurance and pensions issues, also aiming to provide members with training and micro-loans. The NICFA is an association independent from the trade union movement. It has two main functions: buying goods in bulk and providing training on efficient and environmentally friendly fishing methods.