Informal Business Sector Research Articles

COVID-19: BUSINESS RESILIENCE AND DEMAND STIMULATION IN INFORMAL SECTOR IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.

The informal sector is instrumental in the economic structure of a country. It is associated with a high population as well as increased demand for products sold within this sector. Unfortunately, its inability to remain resilient amidst the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the sector. Therefore, this paper investigates the impact of business resilience on demand stimulation in the informal sector in Anambra State. The study identified risk assessment as an aspect of business resilient measures which involves three processes: risk identification, risk analysis, and risk evaluation. The above-listed resilient measures demand high financial commitment which most times these informal sector businesses cannot afford. This affected the informal business’ ability to withstand the pandemic shock. The paper, therefore, recommended the provision of credit to firms in this sector to keep them alive and ensure demand stimulation of their products. It also recommended capacity building and strengthening in both institutional and individual spheres to keep businesses in this sector afloat in the event of a disruption.

Official statistics: Providing data acumen in the advent and continuous presence of COVID-19

COVID-19 has disturbed people’s patterns of life and sources of income, particularly the income of informal sector business operators and households worldwide. As extraordinary policy initiatives are calibrated, the requirement for timely statistics on health and economic development rises. Thus, the purpose of this research is to analyze the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) available to Nigerian states in 2020 and 2019 by examining the disparities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the country’s approximately 200 million people. The exploratory research approach was used, with a particular emphasis on descriptive and trend analysis of the data acquired during the study periods. According to the findings, 46% of Nigerian states, including the Federal Capital Territory, suffered reductions in IGR generation as the pandemic surged, whereas 35 per cent of the states experienced a corresponding increase in IGR and confirmed COVID-19 infections. However, 16% of the states reported an inverse growth in their IGR as the number of verified COVID-19 cases decreased. To deal with the unprecedented shocks caused by the ongoing existence of COVID-19, which necessitate the tapping of new information and revenue streams, a continual review of countries’ revenue sources is required.

Strategi Pedagang Kaki Lima Dalam Peningkatan Perokonomian di Desa Sambi Sebagai Upaya menuju Kesejahteraan

Street vendors are one way to make ends meet. The difficulty of available job opportunities for members of the public who have low education with very limited experience and skills. 1 Small businesses are an integral part of people's daily lives in Indonesia and in other parts of the world in general. Small businesses greatly support the ease of life of Indonesian consumers and have a very large influence on job creation as well as increasing the economic growth of a country. Street vendors in Sambi Market are one of the informal sectors and this trade sub-sector plays an increasingly important role in the economy, where the informal sector is able to absorb the workforce thereby reducing unemployment rates. Street vendors themselves are a type of informal sector business which is the largest trading group in society even though they consist of weak economic groups and structurally occupy the lowest place in Indonesia's economic strata, but in reality the informal sector provides more benefits and contributions to the economy of a country. . Referring to the description of the background and the various conditions associated with street vendors, the problems are as follows: 1) What are the strategies carried out by street vendors in increasing income for their welfare at the Sambi Village Market? 2) What are the obstacles faced by street vendors in increasing income for their welfare at the Sambi Village Market? then the research objectives to be achieved in this study are as follows 1) Want to know the strategies carried out by street vendors in increasing income for their welfare at the Sambi Village Market. 2) want to know what obstacles are faced by street vendors in increasing income for their welfare at the Sambi Village Market. This study uses a qualitative method. Qualitative approach. Data collection techniques using surveys, interviews and documentation. Based on the results of the research and discussion described in the previous chapter, the following conclusions can be drawn: Strategies carried out by street vendors in increasing income for their welfare at the Sambi Village Market: Maintain product quality, price, carry out promotions, choose strategic locations, provide good services. Well

Perceptions of local communities regarding the impacts of mining on employment and economic activities in South Africa

Minerals contribute to the economy of South Africa and social well-being of society. The consequences of any challenges to mining could result in a dire situation for the nation's economy and security including the social well-being of society. One such challenge is the need for approval of the social license for a mine to operate, and this is highly influenced by communities. This paper presents the results of a survey of the perceptions of local people on or close to mines on the socio-economic impacts of mining in their communities. The research identified and utilised four factors to assess the perceptions of the community about the socio-economic impacts, namely personal situations, employment and economic activities, community projects and environment, and settlement associated with mining operations in their vicinity in the local community. Data collected for this paper was processed using statistical analysis. Information was collected from 690 residents in different local mining communities of four provinces in South Africa. The study indicated positive impacts and benefits to the community from the mining operations in their areas, including increased direct and indirect employment and improved quality of life. However, the local community experienced negative impacts of mining such as increased migration, inadequate infrastructure and poor services. In this manner this paper has established a better understanding of mining's positive and negative impacts. The study further revealed misunderstandings and unfulfilled expectations concerning the responsibilities of the mining companies and the accountability of government to the community. It is suggested that local municipal councils should promote entrepreneurship, financial assistance and investment in the community, and establish small and medium enterprises for the informal business sector, where most of the unskilled labour is found.

Patterns of utilization of residential spaces affected by the tsunami in donggala regency

Settlements are an artificial environment that is formed and is strongly influenced by the local socio-cultural and climate. To remain in the unit of the residential setting, the settler will make adjustments based on his needs in a settlement system. This research aims to develop a pattern of living space for people affected by the tsunami in a settlement system. The study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine the settlements and environment in Wani II Village directly affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The unit of analysis includes housing, community activities, and community behavior in land use. The research design looks at the overall location description, sees the relationship between systems, gives meaning to social settings, analyzes data in the field through interpersonal relationships, and combines respondent information. The inductive method is used to continuously analyze the study cases as a purposively selected objective sample. The residential environment unit in Wani II Village, Tanantovea District, Donggala Regency, forms a clustered (concentrated) pattern, oriented to the environmental center, public facilities, social facilities, and existing ecological facilities and infrastructure. The settlement pattern formed is influenced by; a) the existence of worship facilities (old mosque); port facilities (pier); and c) the existing design of environmental roads. The land-use patterns are influenced by; 1) social resilience and cohesion built through social sense; 2) mutual trust between settlers; and 3) respect for existing culture and values. Several residential units that functioned as places of business were repaired and rebuilt on the existing site. The informal sector business spaces utilize the remaining areas that are still permitted for development. Residual land formed between buildings and between buildings and environmental roads and land for housing sites that have collapsed due to the earthquake and tsunami is the most dominant living space used for various activities that can support the lives of settlers with or without government assistance. Research conclusions are ‘local theories’ or ‘substantive theories,’ which apply specifically to the research area and are provisional.

Street Vendors’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Typhoons in Naga City, Philippines

Street vendors belong to the informal business sector operating outside the legal frameworks. With little or no access to social protection, they are perceived to be vulnerable to the adverse effects of a crisis or shocks like typhoons. This study assessed the livelihood vulnerability of street food vendors in an urban city in the Philippines by modifying Hahn's livelihood vulnerability model and the IPCC formula to construct a composite index for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Using the data obtained from the randomized survey of 100 street food vendors, principal component analysis revealed 10 latent variables related to livelihood vulnerability. These variables are business networks, business experience, human capital, financial capital, livelihood utilities, physical well-being, business risk management, physical damages, business losses, and shelter type. The index scores for each variable show that shelter type, business losses, business risk management, and financial capital are the leading factors of livelihood vulnerability among street food vendors; business network is the least. The overall vulnerability of the sector was found to be at a moderate level. One of the sector's major strengths is having social ties manifested through daily interactions and direct connections with their clients. The study offers a framework for measuring the vulnerability of the informal business sector to climate hazards that is context-specific and multifaceted, encompassing adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure – distinctly integrating an entrepreneurial context indicative of business continuity as a livelihood vulnerability-reducing strategy.

Assessment of Work Posture on Woven Bamboo Craftsmen

Introduction: The industry in Indonesia is still experiencing a rapid development. Woven craft one of the thriving informal sector businesses in Tasikmalaya Regency. Each stage of work on making bamboo woven crafts is done in a way that is not ergonomic, especially in the working position, namely how to sit or squat on the floor with the head and back bent. This condition can cause musculoskeletal disorders. The results of risk analysis showed that the job position that belongs to a high-risk category must be controlled immediately. The aim of this study is to assess the working posture of woven bamboo craftsmen. Methods: This research is descriptive research. The object under study was the 20 stages of production of woven bamboo handicraft products. The variables studied were work positions, including individual characteristics and musculoskeletal complaints. Data were collected through passive participant observation using observation sheets. Work position data analysis was carried out using the RULA assessment table. Results: Work postures at thirteen stages of work were at action level 2, three stages of work were at action level 3, and two stages of work were at action level 4. In general, the craftsmen complained of aches in the waist (28%), hand pain (19%), leg pain (16%), and back pain (12%). Conclusion: Priority control should carried out at the coloring and drying stages because they have an action level 4 that must implement the changes now.

Policy roadmap for a sustainable informal business sector

ABSTRACT The informal sector plays a vital role in providing income opportunities to the unemployed. The sector can create more employment opportunities in this distressed South African economy; however, sustainability concerns do exist. An exploratory research design was used in this qualitative study in order to understand the policy stances towards the informal business sector and the issues that threaten its sustainability. The results indicated that the government's efforts to support informal businesses are not tangible and are not focused on inclusive development. A strategic roadmap that could be used by the government to help the sector sustain itself is proposed.

Social services provision and stakeholder engagement in the Nigerian informal sector: A systemic concept for transformation and business sustainability

AbstractThe informal business sector has made enormous contributions to Nigeria's economic growth and development, but this sector is not given the necessary attention to transforming these businesses toward sustainability. This study explores the depth of informal business sector practices in Nigeria. It underscores the inputs of stakeholders in the transformation of businesses in the Nigerian informal sector to increase tax remittances and employment generation for job security in the Nigerian economy. Also, it underpins value chain performances to transform the informal sector and rescue it from liquidation through voluntary company arrangements, administration, merger, takeover, and acquisition schemes. The study adopts a conceptual review. The research relies on extant literature relating to the antecedence of informal business sector activities in Nigeria. It relies on reports from tertiary data sources such as academic articles, books, newspapers, the Internet, and website sources. It further explores the views of researchers, covering the informal sector development and the support of the provisions of the social services in Nigeria. There is the absence of a model for the transformation and sustainability of the informal sector enterprises in Nigeria. This study recommends a model approach to address informal sector enterprises' issues and challenges necessary to transform the businesses into a formal status while supporting their sustainability and resilience.

Barriers of growth within an informal sector business: narratives of women subsistence entrepreneurs in South Africa

PurposeThe study explores growth barriers experienced by a sample of women subsistence entrepreneurs operating within the informal sector in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe paper utilizes a descriptive-exploratory research approach and design relying on semi-structured interviews. A purposive sample of 45 women subsistence entrepreneurs formed the participant pool.FindingsThree main narratives emerged. First, a sense of personal contentment existed as a potential barrier for women subsistence entrepreneurs. Second, the women subsistence entrepreneurs had no expansion strategy due to their circumstances. This served as a barrier to growth. Finally, challenges emanating from the home-front served as a limit to the growth of the informal sector business.Research limitations/implicationsBased on the findings, strategies are offered to assist the women subsistence entrepreneurs in tackling the identified barriers to the growth of the informal sector business. A limitation of the research concerns issues that accompany qualitative research. Notably, these include sampling issues.Practical implicationsBased on the findings, strategies are offered to assist women subsistence entrepreneurs in tackling the barriers that affect their businesses.Originality/valueGiven the popularity of the informal sector in emerging nations such as South Africa, the study proffers suggestions that assist the advancement of subsistence entrepreneurship, especially within the informal sector. The role of women in all this is heightened.

Edukasi dan Simulasi Bekerja Sehat Selamat pada Pekerja Industri Batu Bata di Korong Tanjung Pisang Nagari Sintuk Kabupaten Padang Pariaman

In order to achieve success and high work productivity, informal sector businesses, which are growing fast in society, need excellent occupational health support. However, the number of workers in Indonesia is directly proportional to the number of work accidents, which is still high. Based on Social Security Administering Agency (BPJS) data in 2018, work accident cases were 123,000, an increase of 20% compared to 2017. Brick production business is one of the informal industries that found in various regions, including in Korong Tanjung Pisang Nagari Sintuk, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra. Worker activities risk accidents such as being crushed, falling, burns, and occupational diseases such as respiratory infections, low back pain, dermatitis, nail damage, and work fatigue. The activity method was door-to-door hazard communication on the first day and safe and healthy work education with simulations on the second day. The activity resulted in increased participants' knowledge about workplace hazards and risks and healthy and safe working methods. It was indicated by the increasing number of workers who know healthy and safe working. The pre-test result was that five workers had high knowledge, three had moderate knowledge, and 17 had insufficient knowledge. However, in the post-test result, 18 workers had high knowledge, three had moderate knowledge, and four had low knowledge. In conclusion, this activity is beneficial, providing a solution for a better way of working.

Work readiness during COVID-19 among taxibike online drivers in Samarinda, Indonesia

COVID-19 caused a pandemic around the world, including in Indonesia. This greatly affected the informal business sector, such as online taxibike drivers. The success of this program to control the spread of COVID-19 is greatly influenced by knowledge, attitudes, and actions in the community. The purpose of this study was to identify behavioral factors during the pandemic. An online survey was conducted with 100 online taxibike drivers using a structured questionnaire and Google Forms. Data were analyzed using the Spearman rank test with CI of 95%. Although most online taxibike drivers have sufficient knowledge about COVID-19, some drivers had important misconceptions about COVID-19, namely that COVID-19 is not contagious, weak immune resistance may cause them to contract COVID-19, and it is highly unlikely that they will contract COVID-19 when leaving the house without wearing a mask, and believing that handwashing with soap and using hand sanitizer will not prevent COVID-19. To address these misconceptions, interventions should be targeted to online taxibike drivers to increase their health education and literacy regarding the urgency of preventing COVID-19. It is also important to consider incorporating both interpersonal approaches and conventional and digital-based groups when encouraging changes in their attitudes and practices towards COVID-19.

Assistance in identifying potential occupational safety and health hazards for woven bamboo craftsmen in Tasikmalaya

The informal sector business supports the economy in Indonesia. However, It has various potential hazards. Occupational safety and health (OSH) must be implemented in all workplaces, both formal and informal. OSH efforts focus more on disease prevention and health promotion to change workers' behavior meeting occupational health standards. One of them is increasing workers' knowledge. This community service aims to disseminate the study results of the potential hazards of the work environment in each process of making bamboo weaving crafts. The method used community empowering There were 20 participants consisting of bamboo SMEs owners and the craftsmen who joined the bamboo SMEs association. The results showed that most participants never knew that there were potential hazards in every stage of making woven bamboo crafts before the accompaniment. However, they became more understanding of the potential hazards in their workplace after accompaniment. In conclusion, craftsman's understanding levels of the potential hazards in the work environment increased after accompaniment. potential hazards in the process of making bamboo crafts. SMEs owners and artisans should consider potential risks in the workplace to form safe behavior at work.

NOTES ON SPATIAL-STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN URBAN SOUTH AFRICA -THE 1990s

Informal businesses used to be something that was only tolerated in the former black townships during the years of apartheid. Since then the informal business sector has become an integral part of the central business setup of cities in South Africa. It not only serves to widen the security net of the urban poor in cities, it also represents the outcome of the democratization process in the country over the past fifteen years. Yet, there has been a tendency amongst local authorities to take steps to reduce the footprint of this sector in the urban environment in recent years. This trend ties in with the new approach of government to transform South African cities to become ’world class’ centres - a step that is aimed at making the cities more visually acceptable to visitors from abroad. In this paper an attempt is made to demonstrate the importance of the informal sector within the urban business makeup and to show what role it played in the spatial-structural evolution of the urban economies during the 1990s. The paper analyzes the structure of the urban business sector as a whole and structurally links the formal and informal sectors, demonstrating the importance of both sectors in the economic makeup of the cities. It analyses the structure of the informal sector and shows how different layers of the sector potentially relates to the formal urban sector.

Pro-Poor tourism strategies in local communities in Uganda: A case study of lake Bunyonyi in Kabale district

The study examined the effectiveness of pro-poor tourism strategies on local communities in Uganda taking a case study of the Lake Bunyonyi tourist area. Using a descriptive research design, data was collected from a total of 120 community members with the aid of questionnaires. Interviews were also conducted on 10 key informants. The study found that pro-poor tourism strategies that are aimed at enhancing economic benefits to the poor are generally moderately effective as established by the composite mean. This is because the tourism enterprises have employed locals within their ranks, created opportunities for the informal sector and small businesses, boosted household income through home projects such as poultry rearing, bee keeping and fish farming. However, this has been undermined by failure by the enterprises to increased access to market opportunities indirectly to tourism enterprises and to increase community access to investment funds, loans, and micro credit schemes. The study also found that pro-poor tourism strategies that are aimed at enhancing non-financial benefits to the poor are generally moderately effective The strategies have really not succeeded as such in enhancing other non-economic livelihood benefits like; increasing access to health care, health care education for example reproductive health, HIV and malaria prevention; increasing local access to infrastructure and services for example roads, running water, internet, and telephones and improving environmental support. The study found that pro-poor tourism strategies that are aimed at enhancing community participation and partnership are generally moderately effective. The strategies have not fully succeeded in enhancing the participation and involvement of the poor in tourist activities. The study concluded that the pro-poor tourism strategies are only moderately effective in improving the economic benefits to the community, in enhancing non-economic benefits and enhancing of community participation and partnership of the poor in tourist activities.

REGISTERIAL VARIATION IN HIP-HOP

Language functions as a means of communication and socialization. These tenets of language are very vital in the Nigerian Informal Business Sector. One aspect of the Informal Sector that is examined by this paper is Hip-hop (a subset of the Creative Industry). Register is a set of linguistic items associated with discrete, occupational and social groups. This paper looked at Nigerian Hip-hop songs (as a social group) and its informal language. Nigerian Hip-hop (a subset of the creative industry) in the last few years has started piling up register for itself and these registerial variations have taken the Nigerian Informal Business Sector to its next level. This paper examines the registerial variation of Nigerian Hip-hop. It employed the Beiber and Conrad (2009) model, a more recent and comprehensive registerial framework which is descriptive in its outlook. Three Hip-hop artistes with two songs each from the southern region of the country (SE, SW, and SS) were used to determine indexation of these registerial variations in their song. At the end, a register of Nigerian Hip-hop as an index of language use in Nigerian Informal Business Sector was drawn with the aim of identifying that there is a lect from the Nigerian Hip-hop and prospect of this variety in wider communication

The Role of Technology Investment, Business Sector Investment, Government Investment in Public Goods and Consumption in Efforts to Improve Population Welfare in Indonesia

This research is about technology investment, business sector investment, government investment in public goods and consumption in an effort to improve the welfare of the population in Indonesia, which is reflected in the Gross Domestic Product. This study uses secondary data from world banks and processed regression using the moving average autoregression method. We find that government consumption and investment are positively related to gross domestic product, so it can be concluded that government investment in public goods and public consumption is a driving factor for the welfare of the Indonesian people. This shows that the informal business sector which is not touched by business sector investment, either FDI or direct investment or paper asset investment, needs to be strengthened by buying umkm products and informal sector products because the Indonesian economy relies on the informal sector.

An emperical study into the informal sector: The link between entrepreneurial activity and firm performance

Orientation: Within an emerging market context, the informal sector’s role was deemed critical towards achieving ideals of a developmental state. Given this perceived importance, there was a need to continually study informal sector entrepreneurial activity and its ramifications on firm performance.Research Purpose: This study aimed to understand the link between informal sector entrepreneurial activities and firm performance using a sample of firms operating in Durban, South Africa.Motivation of the study: Exploring those entrepreneurial activities that either enhanced or impeded the informal sector was deemed critical in the effectual and efficient operation of the sector. In driving the firm performance agenda ascertaining the role of factors such as (1) entrepreneurial culture, (2) entrepreneurial education and skills, (3) government and incubation support and finally, (4) access to finance can enhance the informal sector through the provision of evidence-based interventions.Research approach/design/method: A quantitative survey research approach was used to collect data from 152 informal sector businesses operating in the city of Durban in South Africa. A convenience sampling technique was used to access the respondents. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme version 23 using correlation and regression tests.Main findings: The findings revealed the adoption of an entrepreneurship culture, including access to entrepreneurship education and skills to predict a firm’s financial and non-financial performance significantly. Furthermore, it was found that government and incubation support predicted a firm’s financial performance. However, it was also established that government and incubation support had no unique contribution to non-financial performance.Practical/managerial implications: Suggestions were made based on the findings that entrepreneurial activities have a bearing on informal sector business performance. These findings became a helpful intervention towards enhancing the performance of informal businesses.Contribution/value-add: This study contributed to understanding entrepreneurial activities that either enhanced or impeded informal businesses’ performance.

Experiences of Female Migrants in the Informal Sector Businesses in the Cape Coast Metropolis: Is Target 8.8 of the SDG 8 Achievable in Ghana?

Situated within the neoclassical micro-economic and migration networks theories, this study used in-depth interviews to explore the circumstances, lived experiences, risk and vulnerabilities of female migrants in selected informal sector businesses in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. The data was processed and analyzed thematically using the QSR Nvivo qualitative software version 11. Participants reported varied and complex lived experiences. Poverty, the search for employment, parental irresponsibility and marital instability were the dominant explanations for their decisions to migrate. Most participants intimated that their health and economic rights were often violated, that they endured verbal abuse, physical injury, sexual harassment, and were compelled to work even when sick. Their daily or monthly earnings were at the mercy of their employers, and their work, living and sleeping environments were unsafe. Considering that these findings reflect what generally prevails in other parts of the country, Ghana is unlikely to achieve Target 8.8 of the Sustainable Development Goal 8. There is therefore an urgent need to enforce the relevant laws and policies to protect the fundamental human rights, safety, health and well-being of females in these and similar livelihood activities in Ghana.

The informal features of micro and small enterprises and its incompatibility with the partnership law in Ethiopia

This paper aims to analyze unfitness of micro and small enterprises with the existing trade law particularly partnership rules in Ethiopia. Qualitative research methodology is utilized in order to capture and analyze accurate and in-depth insight of the fact that micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia are not compatible with the existing partnership law though partnership form of firms are suitable for small business. The available literatures related to the issue were professionally scrutinized and analyzed for the purpose of the research. The results of this research shows that micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia are formed as simply business organization which does not specify the kind of firm structure. Formation, management, liability and dissolution of micro and small enterprises deviate from the partnership requirements stipulated under the Ethiopian commercial code. Furthermore, micro and small enterprises are operating as informal sector business though the sectors‘ development strategy clearly states that they should be organized under trade law. Therefore, micro and small enterprises system should be reformed in order to make them to be compatible with the existing commercial law.