THEME: Precarious and Informal Work TITLE: Social Contracts and Informal Workers in the Global South PUBLISHED BY: Edward Elgar Publishing WHO IS THIS FOR: The Covid-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and injustices, the attendant economic crisis disproportionately impacting workers in the informal economy, who make up over 60% of the world’s workers. The fallout has reinforced prior calls for the need for a new social contract – one which accounts for the reality of widespread informal employment. But what does that really mean? In this volume the editors and contributors seek to answer this question by integrating social contract theory with the experiences of organisations of informal workers in the Global South. Instead of ideologically driven ‘top-down’ calls to revitalise the social contract, it advocates for ‘bottom-up’ initiatives focused on the demands of the working poor in the informal economy, and outlines a vision for a social contract grounded in this reality. Study circles, labour academics and activists and those working with the informal sector will find this useful. Download here Social Contracts and Informal Workers in the Global South

THEME: Precarious and Informal Work TITLE: Advocating for informal cross-border traders – Experiences from West and Central Africa PUBLISHED BY: StreetNet WHO IS THIS FOR: This short report showcases the experiences of StreetNet affiliates from West and Central Africa in advocating for informal cross-border traders, after following a training series of webinars focused on the topic. Study circles, labour academics and activists and those working with the informal sector will find this useful. Download here Advocating for informal cross-border traders – Experiences from West and Central Africa

THEME: Precarious and Informal Work TITLE: Working for nothing in the platform economy: Forms and institutional contexts of unpaid labour PUBLISHED BY: SOLIDAR WHO IS THIS FOR: The advent of digital labour platforms – and its acceleration during the pandemic – require researchers, civil society organisations, and policymakers to question the impact of this new mode of labour on workers’ livelihoods and the quality of their jobs. This paper aims to offer an in-depth account on the forms and conditions of unpaid labour in the platform economy, as these represent a crucial element in the way that working lives are precarious under platform labour regimes. The researchers delve into three major economic sectors where platforms are thriving – food delivery, care and domestic services, and freelancing professional services; and five European countries – France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland. Trade union leaders, labour activists and researchers will find this useful. Download here Working for nothing in the platform economy: Forms and institutional contexts of unpaid labour

THEME: Precarious and Informal Work TITLE: World Employment and Social Outlook 2021: The world of digital labour platforms in transforming the world of work PUBLISHED BY: ILO (International Labour Organisation) WHO IS THIS FOR: The report offers a comprehensive picture of the experience of workers and businesses on online web-based and location-based platforms, drawing on surveys and interviews with some 12,000 workers and representatives of 85 businesses around the world, in multiple sectors. It also provides insights into the business model of digital labour platforms, examines regulatory responses around the globe, and presents a way forward to ensure that all platform work is decent work. This report will be useful for those working and organising in the informal economy. Download here World Employment and Social Outlook 2021: The world of digital labour platforms in transforming the world of work  

THEME: Precarious and Informal Work TITLE: WIEGO Publications Catalogue 2020/1 PUBLISHED BY: WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing) WHO IS THIS FOR? WIEGO is a global network focused on empowering the working poor, especially women, in the informal economy to secure their livelihoods. This comprehensive catalogue reflects the research, advocacy and organising publications WIEGO has produced. It contains downloads of books, publications series, advocacy materials and more, on topics ranging from Covid-19 emergency responses, workers’ health, bargaining collectively, and policy briefs, amongst others. This valuable resource will be useful to educators, activists, leaders, organisations and individuals working in the informal economy. WIEGO publications are freely available. Download here WIEGO Publications Catalogue 2020/1

THEME: Precarious and Informal Work TITLE: La situación de los derechos humanos de las personas recicladoras en América Latina: una mirada desde estándares internacionales LANGUAGE: Spanish WHO IS THIS FOR? This report examines the human rights situation of waste pickers in six countries in Latin America. The report contributed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) citing violations suffered by waste pickers in Argentina, Mexico, Nicaragua and Uruguay in their annual report. A suite of workers’ materials is currently being developed to share the findings of this report with waste pickers. The report is available in Spanish. It will be useful for those in worker education in informal and precarious sectors, study circle groups and informal/precious work NGOOs and organisations. Download here Click here to download and read more