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Ernestine Mohloboli, a former artist who now makes a living collecting waste in Johannesburg, has long been a proponent of organizing reclaimers. For years, many reclaimers resisted joining. But when COVID-19 shut down their livelihoods, the African Reclaimers’ Organisation became a lifeline.
When COVID-19 hit, it was South African waste picker Justina Kgoele's resourcefulness that got her through the worst of the crisis. Forced to make new plans to survive, Justina tells of how she liaised with the African Reclaimers Organisation (ARO) to get food parcels and PPE to those who'd lost...
WIEGO's response to the attacks on waste pickers who work at the Genesis Landfill in Johannesburg in June 2018. The atttacks, in which reclaimers homes were raided and workers injured -- at least 15 hopitalized, 4 in serious condition -- were carried out by a private security force. WIEGO calls on...
The November/December 2017 edition of the South African Labour Bulletin features the article, "Amplifying voice, visibility and validity. Waste pickers in Jo’burg city” by Vanessa Pillay. This article describes the working conditions of waste pickers in Johannesburg, the threat of privatization of...
This policy document, serves as a reinterpretation of the existing informal trading policy work, by providing an action programme that will align and coordinate the research and policy determination that has taken place over the past four years and an attempt to ensure the programme fits in with the...
Johannesburg, South Africa Photo by: Jonathan Torgovnik, Getty Images/Reportage A leadership training session took place on August 19th and 20th 2017, in Johannesburg. WIEGO’s advisor and emeritus team member Chris Bonner attended to provide the training to Gauteng Province leaders of the South...
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...
Vanessa Pillay of WIEGO and waste picker represenatives from Johannesburg, South Africa are interviewed on local radio to share their concerns regarding the privatization of waste collection services in the city of Johannesburg, which will threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of waste pickers in the...
Johannesburg, South Africa The 3-day national workshop, “'Consensus-Building' on the Implementation of ILO Recommendation 204 on Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy," was convened by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the National Economic Development and Labour Council...
By Leslie Vryenhoek Domestic workers represent a vast, hidden and essential workforce whose efforts inside private homes allow their employers to be more productive outside the home. In Johannesburg, South Africa, domestic work provides a major source of employment. But capturing the working lives...
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.