Publications on informal economy

  1. World Employment and Social Outlook 2021

    The role of digital labour platforms in transforming the world of work [Summary]

    23 February 2021

    This report examines how digital labour platforms are transforming the world of work and how that affects employers and workers. It focuses on two main types of digital labour platform: online web-based platforms, where tasks are performed online and remotely by workers, and location-based platforms, where tasks are performed at a specified physical location by individuals, such as taxi drivers and delivery workers.

  2. WIEGO Statistic Brief no. 27

    Home-based Workers in the World: A Statistical Profile

    19 February 2021

    Globally, 260 million women and men are employed in home-based work, including 35 million in developed countries.

  3. Publication

    Executive summary: Opportunities for extending social security coverage in Jordan

    11 February 2021

    The report aims to support Jordanian policymakers in the extension of social security to informal workers. It formulates typologies for informal workers outside the social security system, analyses the main constraints to coverage and outlines a range of policy approaches for the extension of coverage.

  4. Publication

    Opportunities for extending social security coverage in Jordan

    11 February 2021

    The report aims to support Jordanian policymakers in the extension of social security to informal workers. It formulates typologies for informal workers outside the social security system, analyses the main constraints to coverage and outlines a range of policy approaches for the extension of coverage.

  5. Briefing note

    Research brief 3: Social Security of Platform Workers in China: findings and recommendations from two studies (2018-2019)

    04 February 2021

  6. ILO Working paper 24

    Online digital labour platforms in China: Working conditions, policy issues and prospects

    02 February 2021

    This paper summarizes the results of an ILO survey, conducted in 2019, of workers’ characteristics and working conditions on three major digital labour platforms in China.

  7. New study

    Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No.188): Netting Gains for Sri Lanka

    02 February 2021

    This study was commissioned to identify how the ratification of C 188 convention by the Government of Sri Lanka would impact on different stakeholders. Working in the agriculture and fisheries sector, the ILO's LEED+ project has a strong focus on creating inclusive, decent work opportunities. It is expected that the C 188 Convention, if ratified by the Government of Sri Lanka, will not only promote decent work conditions in the fisheries sector and create additional employment, but also generate significant economic returns to the country.

  8. Joint UNDP/ ILO publication

    Informality and Social Protection in African Countries: A Forward-looking Assessment of Contributory Schemes

    01 February 2021

  9. Theory of Change

    Transition from the informal to the formal economy - Theory of change

    29 January 2021

    This umbrella theory of change provides the main pathways for the transition to formality of workers and enterprises. It is a general framework that can inform the development of theories of change focused on a specific sector, occupational groups, forms of informality or policy areas.

  10. Research brief

    COVID-19 and rising wage inequality: Trends and challenges in Thailand and Viet Nam

    27 January 2021

    This brief presents quantitative trends in wage inequality in Thailand and Viet Nam during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. Based on various measures, it highlights the rise of inequality as wages have been increasingly concentrated among the highest wage earners and the disproportionate impact of lower wages on informal workers, youth and workers with lower educational qualifications. It presents a number of policy measures including enhanced wage support and active labour market policies to counter these dynamics.