Abstract
This study analyses the meanings street vendors confer upon informal work. Episodic and semi-structured interviews were used to generate and analyze the meanings and vision constructed by 50 street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia. We organized the data through the analysis of thematic networks, starting with initial categories complemented with categories that emerged during the process. Findings show that street vendors confer meaning upon their work as a service, as the only chance to earn a living, and of their autonomy. They construct meanings of work as individualistic, responsible, and helpful workers. Thus, at the same time that they express satisfaction with what they do, they also express nonconformity and dissatisfaction with not having the opportunity to access other types of work. Despite the existence of stigmas and the negative effects thereof that Colombian society maintains about the work and the presence of street vending activities, street vendors carry out their work out as a dignified lifestyle and they see their activities as honorable and as contributing to the well-being of society. This study seeks to contribute to the debate about the meaning that society and academia form about street vendors, their activities and the workspaces they occupy.
Highlights
The discourse on informality discourse is lively, and it can be presumed that Hart’s (1973) influential paper that coined the term informal sector marked the starting point of contemporary debates on informality in the labor market
Despite the existence of stigmas and the negative effects thereof that Colombian society maintains about the work and the presence of street vending activities, street vendors carry out their work out as a dignified lifestyle and they see their activities as honorable and as contributing to the wellbeing of society
Despite the existence of stigmas and the negative effects thereof (Lamont et al, 2016) that Colombian society maintains about the work and the presence of street vending activities, street vendors carry out their work out as a dignified lifestyle and they see their activities as honorable and as contributing to the well-being of society as found by Goldstein (2016) and Cross (2000)
Summary
The discourse on informality discourse is lively, and it can be presumed that Hart’s (1973) influential paper that coined the term informal sector marked the starting point of contemporary debates on informality in the labor market. In the current labor context, full-time jobs and security guarantees are disappearing and demands and requirements vis-à-vis the workforce are segmented (Williams, 2019; Williams & Nadin, 2012) This circumstance results in the expulsion of groups of workers and employees from the formal labor market, wasting knowledge and abilities, and affecting the quality of life of those who do not comply with the imposed demands. The International Labor Organization (ILO, 2013) defines labor informality as the type of work that originates in labor relationships that are not subject to national legislation In such circumstances, taxes are not paid, there is no social security coverage, and there are no benefits associated with employment. Studying meanings of work in informal street vendors is pertinent to understanding how these individuals modify their meanings according to changes in their context of the activities they perform (Kashima & Foddy, 2002)
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