Informal Sector Workers Research Articles

Evaluation of work posture using Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methods: a case study

Ergonomic work posture assessment is a method for evaluating the physical condition of work and employees’ posture when working. Lack of knowledge about ergonomics in work activities carried out by informal sector workers leads to health problems. Health problems that arise, namely musculoskeletal disorders, occur in the work of the bean roasting process with an unnatural standing posture coupled with excessive muscle exertion. This study aimed to evaluate the work posture of bean-roasting process workers. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method is used for eight workers. The results obtained were work posture with a low category of 25%, risk with a medium category of 38%, and risk with a high category of 50%. The conclusion of this study, namely the evaluation of work postures that have been carried out in this small industry with the RULA tool, is that a significant proportion of workers are in unsafe and insecure positions, as found by the author. This is due to small and medium enterprises’ lack of ergonomic knowledge and awareness.

Determinants of retirement of formal and informal sector workers in Mexico: the role of health and economic security.

We examine the socioeconomic and health drivers of retirement decisions and compare these determinants between formal and informal sector workers in Mexico. Using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study 2012 and 2015, we estimate conditional probit models of retirement using sociodemographic, health, health care utilization, health insurance, private pensions, and social security systems covariates. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Southern California reviewed and approved the research (IRB # UP-15-00023). We find that the social security systems are an important determinant for retirement age for formal sector workers. The informal sector workers, who lack access to retirement benefits of the social security system, make retirement decisions mainly based on health and access to health insurance through social security. Despite the lack of access to social security benefits, informal sector workers do not respond strongly to socioeconomic factors in determining the timing of retirement. Strengthening access to better health care services could improve health, extend working lives, and promote healthy aging for workers in the informal sector.

Labor Conditions, Wages and Non-Cash Transfers in Poverty in Eastern Indonesia

Poverty is a complex and prolonged problem because it touches all aspects of both social, economic and Environmental Society at large. The Eastern region of Indonesia still has a high percentage of poverty, there are 5 provinces with a predominance of poverty percentage identified as being at a high percentage of poor population, including Papua 27.33%, West Papua 22.67%, East Nusa Tenggara 21.10%, Maluku 17.74% and Gorontalo 16.17%. This study identifies the factors of productivity components of the poor with the variable influence of non-cash direct assistance, minimum wage and informal sector workers on poverty cases in 5 regions of eastern Indonesia. This study uses Panel Data with the ordinary Least Squaremethod, this researcher in the period 2016-2022 by using regional observation or (cross section) 5 provinces in eastern Indonesia including Maluku, Gorontalo, East Nusa Tenggara, Papua and West Papua. Informal sector workers (PSI) have a positive and significant effect, the Minimum wage (UM) has a negative and significant effect and non-cash food assistance (BPNT) has no effect on poverty in 5 provinces in eastern Indonesia in 2016-2022.

Just Transition in the Global South: Alternative Approaches from Latin America

This paper presents a critical analysis of just transition narratives in the context of Latin America, highlighting the need for a Global South1 approach that considers the specific socio-economic and environmental conditions of the region. Drawing on the existing literature and the case law of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), the paper examines the role of international environmental and human rights law in promoting a fair and equitable transition to a low-carbon economy. It argues that a just transition must prioritize the needs of vulnerable groups, including informal sector workers, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized communities, who are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate change. The paper also assesses the narratives of just transition in the Inter-American system, providing a new contribution to the literature on human and environmental rights in the region. By highlighting the importance of a context-specific approach to just transition, this paper aims to contribute to ongoing debates on the role of law in promoting sustainable and fair employment in Latin America. Just transition, Latin America, Low Carbon Economy, Net-Zero Emissions, Global Warming, Informal Sector Workers, Indigenous Peoples, Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Resilience in crisis: economic coping strategies of informal sector households during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jambi City, Indonesia

This study aims to analyze: 1) the socio-economic characteristics of households of informal sector workers in Jambi City; 2) the coping strategies of these households in facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) the influence of household socio-economic characteristics on the economic coping strategies of informal sector workers in Jambi City. The primary data used in this study were sourced from a survey of households of informal sector workers in Jambi City. The analysis utilized descriptive statistical tools and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings of the study reveal that: 1) informal sector workers are generally of productive age, with relatively good education, and predominantly engaged in trading and daily wage labor; 2) the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the social conditions of these households, particularly in terms of income, savings, and non-food expenditures; 3) in the context of economic coping strategies, the strategy of generating additional income is more commonly employed by these households compared to cutting back expenses; 4) the characteristics of the wife and the family significantly influence the coping strategies adopted by households of informal sector workers. In contrast, the characteristics of the household head do not have a significant impact.

An analysis of the welfare of informal sector workers in the city of cirebon in the new normal period after the Covid 19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic which is endemic in almost all parts of the world has had a major impact on various lines of life, including the economy. This condition requires the government to issue a Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) policy. This policy limited people's activities and resulted in a limited economy. However, after the pandemic conditions began to improve, and new normal policies began to be implemented. The method used in writing this article is quantitative with the method of regression analysis. This article aims to analyze the welfare of informal sector workers against the conditions of the new normal in the city of Cirebon. The results of the regression analysis show that the sig value (P-value) is <0.05 so there is a significant influence between the conditions of the new habit (X) on the welfare of the informal sector workers (Y).

The Ideal Arrangement of Legal Protection for Informal Sector Workers in the Perspective of the Principles of Legal Certainty, Justice and Expediency

This research discusses the ideal arrangement of legal protection for informal sector workers in the perspective of the principles of legal certainty, justice, and expediency. This research method is normative juridical with a socio-normative approach. While data analysis is deductive. From the results of the research, it is found that labour arrangements as a form of legal protection for Informal Sector Workers need to apply the principle of proportionality, which is a principle that requires material balance and accuracy with an emphasis on the balance between the burden caused (the means used) and the interests supported (objectives), because informal sector workers carry out work relations on the basis of trust and individual business tendencies, the regulation of labour control needs to pay attention to the condition of the employer's ability to apply the work rules that have been determined, in addition to the need to reconstruct the notion of work relations and redefine work agreements in order to provide legal protection to informal sector workers. The current regulatory policy in the field of employment still exists and is structured based on the joints of colonial legal products that place workers as objects or objects that become one of the production factors in the business sector.

An Analysis of the Provision of Social Protection for Informal Sector Workers

An Analysis of the Provision of Social Protection for Informal Sector Workers

Hubungan antara Gerakan Repetitif dan Lama Kerja dengan Gejala Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pada Pekerja Sektor Informal Pengelola Hasil Laut

Background: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is occupational diseases caused by repetitive movements that are carried out monotonously and continuously for a long time. Repetitive movements that are carried out for a long time can cause the median nerve at the wrist to be pinched or compressed. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between repetitive movements and duration of action with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.Methodes: This type of research is quantitative research using cross sectional method and using total sampling in which the entire population is used as a research sample with a total of 62 samples. The instruments used are data questionnaires, Data analysis was carried out using Chi Square test with SPSS version 22.0.Results: The data from this study indicate that there is a relationship between repetitive movements and symptoms of CTS (p = 0.000). This study also showed that there was a relationship between length of work and symptoms of CTS (p = 0.001).Conclusion: The conclusion is that there is a relationship between repetitive movements and length of work with symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome in informal sector workers managing marine products (fish, crab and shellfish) in the Citemu Trade Business.

A comparative study of exclusive breastfeeding between mothers of formal and informal sector workers in Ede north local government area, Osun State Nigeria

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is helpful in reducing infant morbidity and mortality throughout the first six months of life. However, despite aggressive marketing, just 13-36% of Nigeria infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the knowledge, practice and factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among informal and formal sector workers in Ede north local government, Osun State. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with 285 respondents from formal and informal sector workers with child(ren) aged 0-24 months. Results: Results showed a significant difference in knowledge and practice of exclusive breastfeeding between formal and informal sector workers. Factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding include lactation, job hindrances, and crèche availability. The practice of EBF was low among mothers in the formal sector, and the factors impacting its practice reported in this study may have substantial implications for breastfeeding intervention programs. Conclusions: As a result, attempts to promote EBF should target specific populations of informal sector women and areas where it is underutilized. Moreover, mothers must be supported. Furthermore, mothers should be encouraged to attend antenatal care where they will learn about the benefits of exclusive nursing to children under the age of six months, allowing them to make informed decisions on exclusive breastfeeding. The Nigerian government should ensure that the employment act’s maternity leave benefits are implemented in the informal sector, allowing women to practice EBF.

Formalization of Informal Sector Business Enterprises and Accessibility to Social Security Services by Workers in Uganda's Informal Sector

Formalization of Informal Sector Business Enterprises and Accessibility to Social Security Services by Workers in Uganda's Informal Sector

Socio-economic Status and Social Protection of Baguio Cemetery Contractors and Workers: Inputs for Interventions

The study examines the socioeconomic status and social protection of Baguio City Cemetery Workers, as well as their knowledge of cemetery policies. It utilized a descriptive-quantitative design, primarily using a survey questionnaire. The findings indicate that the cemetery workers in Baguio City have a partial level of satisfaction with social assistance programs. They have limited awareness of social insurance programs and labor market programs provided by the government. Additionally, their knowledge regarding policies governing cemeteries is considered moderate. Based on the study's results, it is recommended to enhance the awareness and comprehension of Baguio City cemetery workers regarding the government's social protection programs through orientation sessions. Furthermore, there is a need to expand the coverage of social protection programs to include low-income informal sector workers.

Coping strategies for health care financing among informal sector workers in Dar es Salam, Tanzania

Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) health financing systems has been dependent on out-of-pocket payments (OOP). This type of payment is thought to increase income to finance health care but it’s unaffordable to economically disadvantaged persons. Health insurance was introduced in order to reduce catastrophic health expenditure caused by OOP but its implementation to informal sector workers is a challenge. Therefore, this study examines the coping strategies for managing health care costs among informal sector workers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between September and December 2020 to 889 informal sector workers. The study respondents were randomly selected and questionnaire was used to collect data. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze data through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: The findings showed that the mean age of the respondents was 34.8 years (SD±10.4) and majority, (90.1%) of the respondents were uninsured. The methods to carter for medical expenditures were cash payments (p=0.297; 95%CI=0.195-0.452), selling assets (p=0.672, 95%CI=0.507-0.891) and borrowing money (p=0.578, 95%CI=0.412-0.811). Conclusions: The health care financing methods that the informal sector workers use in order to access health services are effective in reducing short run problems of health care accessibility but it contributes to impoverishment. Designing an affordable insurance scheme with consideration of the social economic aspects of individuals will improve uptake to insurance schemes and hence achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Potential demand for National Health Insurance in Zimbabwe: Evidence from selected urban informal sector clusters in Harare.

Zimbabwe's tax-based healthcare financing model has been characterised by perennial financing deficits and widespread application of user fees and has thus been socially exclusive. The country's urban informal sector population is not spared from these challenges. The study explored the potential demand for National Health Insurance (NHI) among respondents from selected urban informal sector clusters of Harare. The following clusters were targeted: Glenview furniture complex, Harare home industries, Mupedzanhamo flea market, Mbare new wholesale market and Mbare retail market. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 388 respondents from the selected clusters, and data on the determinants of Willingness to Join (WTJ) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) was gathered. Respondents were recruited via a multi-stage sampling procedure. In the first stage, the five informal sector clusters were purposely selected. The second stage involved a proportional allocation of respondents by cluster size. Finally, based on the stalls allocated by municipal authorities in each area, respondents were selected using systematic sampling. The sampling interval (k) was determined by dividing the total number of allocated stalls in a cluster (N) by the sample size proportionate to that cluster (n). For each cluster, the first stall (respondent) was randomly chosen, and thereafter, a respondent from every 10th stall was selected and interviewed at their workplace. Contingent valuation was adopted to elicit WTP. Logit models and interval regression were applied for the econometric analyses. A total of 388 respondents participated in the survey. The dominant informal sector activity among the surveyed clusters was the sale of clothing and shoes (39.2%), followed by the sale of agricultural products (27.1%). Concerning employment status, the majority were own-account workers (73.1%). Most of the respondents (84.8%) completed secondary school. On monthly income from informal sector activities, the highest frequency (37.1%) was observed in the Zw$(1000 to <3000) or US$(28.57 to <85.71) category. The mean age of respondents was 36 years. Out of the 388 respondents, 325 (83.8%) were willing to join the proposed NHI scheme. WTJ was influenced by the following factors: health insurance awareness, health insurance perception, membership to a resource-pooling scheme, solidarity with the sick, and household recently experiencing difficulties paying for healthcare. On average, respondents were willing to pay Zw$72.13 (approximately US$2.06) per person per month. The key determinants of WTP were household size, respondent's education level, income, and health insurance perception. Since the majority of respondents from the sampled clusters were willing to join and pay for the contributory NHI scheme, it follows that there is potential to implement the scheme for the urban informal sector workers from the clusters studied. However, some issues require careful consideration. The informal sector workers need to be educated on the concept of risk pooling and the benefits of being members of an NHI scheme. Household size and income are factors that require special attention when deciding on the premiums for the scheme. Moreover, given that price instability hurts financial products such as health insurance, there is a need for ensuring macroeconomic stability.

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage in Vietnam: A View from a Study of Factors Affecting the Non-Participation in Health Insurance of Informal Sector Workers

In recent years, health insurance coverage in Vietnam has been increasingly expanded. Up to now, the health insurance coverage rate has reached about 90% of the population; There is still a gap with about 10% of the population not covered by health insurance, most of which are informal sector workers. This is a significant challenge in the roadmap to implement the policy of universal health insurance in Vietnam. Based on the literature review method, this study synthesized and analyzed the main factors affecting the non-participation in health insurance of informal sector workers. On that basis, the authors propose some policy suggestions to attract this group of people to participate in health insurance, expand health insurance coverage, and realize the goal of developing universal health insurance for efficient and sustainable people.

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage in Vietnam: A View from a Study of Factors Affecting the Non-Participation in Health Insurance of Informal Sector Workers

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage in Vietnam: A View from a Study of Factors Affecting the Non-Participation in Health Insurance of Informal Sector Workers

Cashless economy – the nexus of COVID-19 and E-wallet usage intentions: a multi-group analysis between formal and informal sector workers in Ghana

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to offer a conceptual model that bridges gaps in the current research by combining constructs from the health belief model (HBM) and theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Furthermore, the researchers applied the constructed model to analyse the determinants of workers’ intentions to use e-wallet payment options for business transactions rather than physical currency during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the paper examines whether there are any significant variations in the usage intentions of Ghanaian workers in the formal and informal sectors.Design/methodology/approachThe non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to compile the primary respondents among Ghanaian users of e-wallets. Based on constructs derived from the HBM and TPB, an online survey involving the use of a questionnaire was administered to collect quantitative data from 285 formal and informal sector workers in Ghana. Data collected was analysed using the partial least squares-structural equation modelling approach involving the measurement, structural model tests, hypothesis tests and multi-group analysis (MGA) tests.FindingsThis study reveals that workers’ attitudes, subjective norms and perceived susceptibility as the main determinants of intentions to use e-wallets, as the analysis of data lends support to hypotheses involving these constructs. Perceived behavioural control was however not supported by the data analysis as a determinant of workers’ intention. Finally, there were no significant differences between e-wallet usage intentions of formal and informal sector workers in Ghana.Research limitations/implicationsGiven the ongoing pandemic, the study recommends that governments of emerging economies should formulate policies that promote the use of e-wallets, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and at the same time contribute to the quest for a cashless economy. However, the results of the study are only based on data collected from workers in Ghana. Therefore, practitioners should apply the recommendations with discretion and make modifications where necessary. The results of the study also provide evidence from the context of a developing country that can support future academic pursuits.Practical implicationsThis study provides evidence that influences practitioners’ decisions and practices regarding the design and implementation of e-wallet services and innovations among workers in the formal and informal sectors of the economy.Originality/valueThis study provides useful business insights to user acquisition managers, marketing managers and business development managers during the formulation of policies, strategies and approaches for their mobile wallet subscriber base. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to apply the constructs of the HBM (mainly applied in health research) to the study of workers’ intentions to use e-wallets. It, therefore, makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by examining the combined effects of the constructs of the HBM and the TPB on workers’ intention to use e-wallets.

Urban water crisis and the promise of infrastructure: a case study of Shimla, India

Urban water configurations evolve through synergetic relationships that are non-linear, spatially variable, and temporally contingent. As urban development grows in complexity, dense water flow networks intensify within the urban landscape and pose a major challenge to urban water governance. At this junction, this study takes up the specific case study of the water crisis in Shimla, a city situated in the Western Himalayas, which was once the summer capital of British India. Shimla witnessed two significant episodes of a severe water crisis in 2016 and 2018, respectively. While the mainstream discourses identified erratic rainfall due to climate change, urban growth, and tourism as the prime causes, the crisis was not marked by absolute scarcity. Multitude configurations of infrastructure politics, distribution, and access produced scarcity, which differentially impacted the people in the city and continues to do so. Marginalized social groups (class, caste, gender, and religion) and people living on the periphery, such as slum dwellers, daily wage laborers, and informal sector workers with inadequate economic and social safety nets seem to have been missing from the discourse. In addition, the crisis events in Shimla have led to institutional changes in the governance of water by establishing a parastatal body for a water utility in the city and the proposal of mega water infrastructure projects for the bulk supply of water from the Sutlej River. Deriving from a situated urban political ecology approach, this study presents an in-depth empirical understanding of the complex urban waterscape of Shimla city, where the tourism industry is a major stakeholder, and a critical analysis of the emerging “new” politics of water, which is also a politics of infrastructure in Shimla's post-crisis phase. It adopts a qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with different stakeholders in urban water governance in Shimla and a neighborhood-level case study to understand the post-crisis water scenario in the city. Locating the Shimla case study within the broader planetary geography, this study argues that the water crisis, as a context, is dialectical. Despite the implementation of several hydraulic projects and the financialization of nature, the inherent fissures of inequality within the city that cause differential access to water remain.

Is contributory health insurance indeed an addiction to a bad idea? A comment on its relevance for low- and middle-income countries

Financing of health systems is an enduring concern world wide. Yazbeck and colleagues in their paper make an important point that when there is a choice between financing in which contributions from citizens take place in the form of generalised taxes versus those in which they are in the form of insurance premiums, the overwhelming evidence suggests that tax-based financing is unambiguously superior even in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the strength of their case against contributory insurance, we suggest that the path forward may be more complex than they envisage for a number of reasons. The problem of a high proportion of informal sector workers that they argue impacts contributory approaches is also an issue with taxes because of the very low numbers of people who file returns. Taxes in most developing countries are in fact largely derived from highly regressive indirect taxes which the poor are forced to pay. Additionally, in most developing countries, including large ones like India and Nigeria, the only choice on offer is continued dependence on out-of-pocket expenditures. In such a situation exploring alternatives which are superior to out-of-pocket expenditures becomes imperative. Asking citizens to wait interminably for additional tax resources to be made available would be a grave disservice to them.

Food insecurity and health outcome nexus: empirical evidence from the informal sector enterprises in Bangladesh

BackgroundFood insecurity indicates the difficulty of constantly obtaining adequate food because of limited economic resources. Food insecurity challenges the desired health outcomes. Although extensive literature has examined the associations between food security and health, low-wage informal sector workers have been less frequently addressed in this topic. The present study has focused on food insecurity among the workers working in the informal sector enterprises who experienced entrenched disadvantage during COVID-19 and examines the relationship between food insecurity and health status as measured by self-reported physical and mental health conditions.MethodsThis study has utilized cross-sectional data collected from workers working in informal manufacturing and business enterprises in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) with eight items is used to screen for food insecurity, and the Short Form 12v2 (SF12v2) scale with 12 questions, and validated for use with Bengali respondents, is used to measure the health status of the informal workers. A health production function has been constructed where the health status (both physical and mental) of workers is associated with food insecurity and other socio-economic and health care factors. Empirical analyses of the study have included descriptive statistics, mean score comparisons, and multivariate regression analyses to identify the predictive factors of the physical and mental health status of the workers.ResultsA moderate to severe food insecurity is found to be responsible for the poor health status (both physical and mental) of the selected working group population. Moreover, age over 40 years, having a large family, dissatisfaction with the work place, and the prevalence of occupational health risks are linked to lower physical health, while dissatisfaction with the work place and the incidence of severe diseases contribute to poor mental health status along with food insecurity.ConclusionsExtending social and economic protection towards health coverage and basic consumption is suggested as an immediate action to save lives and ensure productivity of the informal workers. Besides, an increase in income and ensuring decent working conditions are also recommended for the health, safety and satisfaction of workers working in informal sector enterprises.