COVID-19 PANDEMIC: LEGAL ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMAL SECTORS

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). Coronaviruses are minute in size and contain a single stranded RNA as a nucleic material, size ranging from 26 to 32kbs in length. Recently, these viruses have hit the world caused and disrupted many countries political, social and economic programmes without specific vaccine and cure. Having this vaccine should require a law that would regulate its production, establishment, transportation and application at both municipal and international levels. Municipal law is the domestic law of a state regulating the conduct of individuals and legal entities within it while international law is the rules and principles that govern states in their relations intense. Coronavirus pandemic since existence have spread across the globe and therefore, require international treaty to back the administration of the vaccines to people. Apart from technology, environment is another major factor that is essential for the functioning of and survival of an organization. The environments of an organizations are viewed as being important because they compensate for the operative deficiencies in the core technologies operated by diverse organizations. To a business organization, environment of an organization are those elements, institutions, organizations, systems, legal, et cetera, whose activities and services are essential for the effective performance of the organization but are not subject to the control of the organization. Hence, the organization must adapt or adjust to their demands. Legal environment therefore is one of the external environments under which any business or organization whether formal or informal sector, whether gig economy or job that lasts for long term. We cannot pretend while planning for the future of e-commerce, artificial intelligence, technology and employment, we need to improve the working conditions of both independent workers as well as the regions, formal, as contracted employment is the way that people want to earn a living. The informal sector has been the main driver of employment growth in Nigeria and Africa for decades, absorbing rigid urbanization. This paper therefore x-rays the legal environment under which the informal sector operates with no exceptional condition vis a vis the formal sector. We adopted doctrinal methodology. Our recommendations are that since the environment is external and uncontrollable, measures should be taken by government and the wealthy in the society to ameliorate the plights of people working under the informal sector. Again, there is imperative need to amend the regulatory and legal frameworks environment to consider the informal sector in this competitive business environment of Nigeria and Africa.