Abstract:
This research report provides a very thorough picture of the activities of the Self Employed Women‟s Union (SEWU) in South Africa, analysing how it has organized women in the informal economy. SEWU organizes self-employed women involved in informal economic activities, who have a maximum of three employees. Members can be involved in e.g. home based production, small-scale farming, or street trading. One of the challenges faced by SEWU is that many join the union temporarily when facing a crisis, but do not make a long term commitment to membership. SEWU has been engaged in a number of activities, including, advocacy for the street vendors‟ right to public space; participating on a plethora of policy making platforms on local, national, and international levels; providing training to members on skills required in their employment as well as skills that assist on organising and socioeconomic empowerment; assisting members in accessing credit and saving facilities; aiding the members in becoming leaders within the organisation; conducting research; and building alliances on international, regional, and local levels.
