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On July 13, hundreds of Johannesburg’s informal waste pickers (known locally as “reclaimers”) — men and women who have been collecting, separating, and selling the city’s reusable discards for generations — took to the streets to protest a municipal decision that could put them out of work...
Half the world’s population live in cities, and urban informal workers make important economic, social, and environmental contributions to city life. Rhonda Douglas from WIEGO argues that the New Urban Agenda must include all urban stakeholders, including the working poor, to ensure it doesn’t leave...
In India, the government has put in place well-meaning social security schemes, as well as health and nutrition programmes to combat malnutrition and increase health and well being in India. For the poor, these basic-needs schemes are especially important, but often unknown to them. SEWA's model...
Things are not easy for those protecting the Earth. Two recent landfill disasters have exposed the dangerous realities for those who make a living off of the world's waste. Just a few days ago, a garbage dump on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, gave way, burying nearly 30 people who lived at its...
First step includes launch of new social security policy platform Domestic workers face many challenges in their fight for better working conditions. At a very basic level, these workers struggle in isolation, behind the closed doors of employers’ homes, with few opportunities to hear what others...
By Jenna Harvey In July 2016, Kattia Barquero Rojas, a street vendor leader from San Jose, Costa Rica, stood in front of the president of her country and a panel of dignitaries to tell them about the challenges she and other street vendors face – and, importantly, what these policymakers could do to...
WIEGO’s Organizing and Representation Programme and Urban Policies Programme works with waste picker organizations in South Africa and Brazil to identify the unique needs of women working in this sector and how those needs can be addressed. On this International Women’s Day, we go behind the scenes...
By Jenna Harvey There is a growing global consensus that advancing women’s economic empowerment (WEE) is critical both as a matter of human rights and as a driver of sustainable development. But what does economic empowerment mean and who should define how it is achieved? For some women, economic...
Depuis l'effondrement tragique des bâtiments du Rana Plaza au Bangladesh en 2013, les manquements au travail décent dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement mondiales ont connu une attention renouvelée. La tragédie a conduit à l'Accord du Bangladesh sur la sécurité incendie et la sécurité du bâtiment, l...
On International Waste Picker Day, WIEGO’s Sonia Dias tells us what works and the challenges ahead In recent years, waste pickers have made significant progress in gaining greater recognition as key environmental and economic agents. Their work collecting recyclables from city streets and keeping...
Videos / Slideshows / Audio
Millions of women work long hours, in dangerous conditions, for little pay. They are fighting for change, with the help of ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. Watch this video to learn how.
Workers Education/Organizing Materials
This manual helps street vendors learn more about the regulations that govern public space and how to defend the right to work in public space. It describes successful actions taken by street vendor organizations. And it offers information to help you organize and negotiate with local government.
WIEGO Working Papers
Mike Rogan reviews how informal workers are taxed, why there is growing interest in taxing them, and whether they should be included in the tax net.