Informal Economy

First Informal Sector Trade Shows in Tonga a Success

The ILO through the UN Informal Economies Recovery Project, continues to provide technical assistance to the Tonga Public Service Association (PSA) to organise the informal sector.

Project documentation | 18 October 2021
Contact(s): bernard@ilo.org
British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms Lucy Joyce looks at the collection of tapa on display.
Two national trade shows have recently concluded in Tonga, with organisers and attendees heralding them a huge success. The trade shows were organised by the Tonga Public Service Association (PSA), and focused specifically on tapa and woven products made by informal sector workers.

Both events were held to celebrate the inauguration of The Tonga Tapa Making Workers Association and The Tonga Weaving Workers Association; two of the first informal sector associations in the country.

The Tonga Tapa Making Workers Association trade show was held on 27th August 2021 at the Tonga High School sports ground. A total of 34 villages and 545 women from the informal sector were engaged. The trade show was officially opened by HRH Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita.

The Tonga Weaving Workers Association trade show was held on 3rd September 2021 at the same location - engaging 16 villages and 345 women from the informal sector. The trade show was officially opened by the British High Commissioner, her Excellency Ms Lucy Joyce.
“This was the first time for informal workers to be part a national trade event that was specifically for them,” said Ms Mele Amanaki, the General Secretary of the PSA. “The workers also used social media platforms to market their products for the local market and to the Tongan diaspora in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.”
Ms Amanaki further added that on the day of the respective trade shows, a total of T$260,000 worth of orders was received. “The trade show has empowered them and proven to them that collectively, they can support each other to recover from COVID-19”, said Ms Amanaki.
The PSA has supported the establishment of 7 informal sector associations in Tonga with a total membership of over 2,000 workers. 1,045 members have been supported to access government’s COVID-19 recovery package.
The ILO through the UN Informal Economies Recovery Project, will continue to provide further technical assistance to the informal sector, through the PSA, on business training and accessing social security.