Gender, Employment, and the Informal Economy: Glossary of Terms

The glossary was deemed necessary based on the feedback that the ILO/CAWTAR initiative received from regional constituents on the need to clarify concepts, help overcome terminological confusion related to ‘informality’, and move the discussion forward in Arab States.

Presented in English and Arabic, the glossary is intended to bring clarity to the terms used around informality in both languages. Being the first of its kind in the region, it is a preliminary effort intended to stir debate and discussion around the multiplicity of Arabic terms used for certain concepts. The terms are presented in a table format following the English alphabetical order. The Arabic text is presented along with the English in the next column. In addition to the suggested terms, a list of other terms used to describe the same concept is provided in both languages. The inclusion of different terms is based on a review of relevant documents from national, regional, and international organizations, cross-referencing with the United Nations Multilingual Terminology Database, and feedback from readers of previous drafts of the glossary. The terms are indexed for ease of access in both languages, and the sources for definitions are listed after the term, while a full reference list is made available at the end of the glossary.