All news: informal employment + informal enterprises + informal economy

New digital system strengthens workers’ access to grievance support in Timor-Leste

With support from the ILO, a leading trade union in Timor-Leste launches a new digital grievance system to help workers raise concerns, track their cases and access more timely and effective support.

Decent work for platform workers

Digital labour platforms in Cambodia offer opportunities for businesses and workers despite the challenges of informality, says ILO study

Findings point to the need for stronger social protection, occupational safety and health measures, and greater clarity on employment classification.

Armenia’s tripartite constituents advance policy recommendations to promote transition to formality

An ILO-supported series of tripartite discussions brought together government, employers’ and workers’ representatives to develop practical measures to reduce informality in Armenia.

Social protection

Strengthening farmers’ access to social protection and sustainable livelihoods in Timor-Leste

A joint initiative in Timor-Leste strengthens farmers’ livelihoods and access to social protection while supporting better nutrition for children.

Heat stress

High temperatures linked to increased mortality among workers in Colombia, ILO study finds

Agricultural workers, assemblers and health and teaching professionals are among the occupational groups facing the greatest mortality risks associated with high temperatures, according to a new ILO working paper.

Op-ed

Beyond the unemployment rate: Timor-Leste's real jobs challenge

Tendy Gunawan, ILO Rural Development TVET Officer in Timor-Leste, looks beyond Timor-Leste’s low unemployment rate to reveal the deeper challenge of limited decent and productive job opportunities. This opinion editorial was published by Tatoli,...

Social protection

Timor-Leste strengthens capacity to extend social security coverage to informal economy workers

The ILO, in collaboration with its International Training Centre (ITC-Turin), supports Timor-Leste in strengthening institutional capacity to expand social security coverage and improve access to protection for informal economy workers.

Financial literacy

How the ILO is strengthening financial education in Indonesia

Through the Desa Berdaya Programme, the ILO is building local capacity in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara for financial education, enabling facilitators to equip communities with the financial knowledge and skills needed to strengthen their...

Formalization of the Informal Economy Project (Phase II)

ILO digital employment diagnostic informs Mongolia's future of work agenda

The preliminary findings of a new ILO Digital Employment Diagnostic provide evidence to help Mongolia strengthen policies for digital employment and the platform economy.

Article

Employment-intensive fish farming creates green jobs in Uganda

With ILO support, a fish farming group in Isingiro District is demonstrating how employment-intensive nature-based solutions can create jobs, strengthen community cooperation and protect wetland ecosystems.

labour law compliance

From verbal promises to written agreements: Indonesia's coffee communities learn about labour rights

ILO and the Ministry of Manpower help coffee farmers and workers understand their rights and responsibilities to promote safer, fairer and more productive workplaces.

Labour Market 2026

Understanding different forms of informality can help shape more effective policy responses in Latin America and the Caribbean

A new report from the International Labour Organization calls for employment policies to combine formalization, skills development, productivity and social protection to best adapt to demographic, technological and economic changes.

Social protection

Egypt strengthens social health protection to advance universal health coverage

Egypt has taken another step towards strengthening its social health protection system and advancing universal health coverage through enhanced institutional capacities and stronger collaboration among the national institutions responsible for...

Enterprise development

New National Business Development Services Portal connects Bangladesh's entrepreneurs with finance, training and business support services

ILO, SME Foundation and the Ministry of Industries have launched Bangladesh's national Business Development Services (BDS) Portal - a one-stop digital platform connecting entrepreneurs with finance, training, licensing and market information.

Trade unions strengthen action for gender equality and safe workplaces in India

ILO-supported training marks the anniversary of the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) and supports the development of Indian National Trade Union Congress’s National Gender Policy and Action Plan.

Our impact, their voices

More than two decades later, the impact of child labour prevention lives on

More than two decades after receiving support through an ILO-backed programme in Indonesia, former street child Abdul Rohim is helping a new generation of children build brighter futures.

Social protection

Building stronger labour journalism to inform Viet Nam's future of work

An ILO initiative is strengthening journalists’ capacity to report on labour, wages and social protection, supporting more informed public dialogue as Viet Nam’s world of work continues to evolve.

Op-ed

Three flaws, one solution: Ending child labour in Indonesia

Dede Shinta Sudono, ILO Project Coordinator for the Realizing Trade Gains Free From Gender Discrimination and Child Labour (RealGains), highlights that behind Indonesia’s improving statistics lies a harsh reality of over one million children hidden...

Menopause at work: addressing productivity loss, talent retention and gender equality

657 million women at work face menopause, costing billions in lost productivity and pushing experienced talent out of jobs. A recent ILO webinar reveals why action is critical for economic performance and equality.

Productivity ecosystems for decent work

Building capacity to drive SME productivity and decent work in Viet Nam

New training, advisory services, and knowledge-sharing initiatives are helping SME support organizations and enterprises accelerate digital and green transformation while improving productivity and working conditions.