News on informal economy

Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators

Brightly® – Scaling up worker cooperatives through the franchise model

19 December 2019

“Spotlight Interviews with Co-operators” is a series of interviews with co-operators from around the world with whom ILO officials have crossed paths during the course of their work on cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy (SSE). On this occasion, the ILO interviewed Ms. Maru Bautista, Director of the Cooperative Development Programme at the Center for Family Life, on Brightly®, the first worker cooperative franchise in the United States.

News

Indian women co-operators are being trained to roll out Think.Coop

17 December 2019

The Indian Academy of Self-Employed Women (IASEW) conducted a training of facilitators on the ILO’s Think.Coop training tool, with a view to further strengthening women cooperative entrepreneurs in the rural and informal economy in India.

Press release

China expands its support to South-South Triangular Cooperation in ASEAN countries

22 November 2019

World Toilet Day

New report highlights dire working conditions of sanitation workers in some developing countries

14 November 2019

Countless sanitation workers in the developing world work in conditions that endanger their lives and health, and violate their dignity and rights.

InfoStories

The power of small: Unlocking the potential of SMEs

21 October 2019

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises are responsible for more than two thirds of all jobs worldwide. Explore this InfoStory to find out how the ILO is supporting SMEs to reach their full potential and securing a better future of work for everyone.

Employment creation

Small businesses and self-employed provide most jobs worldwide and in Asia

11 October 2019

A new ILO study reveals that almost seven in 10 workers worldwide are self-employed or in small businesses. Self-employed and micro-enterprises account for more than 80 per cent of employment in South Asia. By contrast, medium-sized and large enterprises account for 46 per cent of employment in East Asia and the Pacific.

Employment creation

Small businesses and self-employed provide most jobs worldwide, new ILO report says

10 October 2019

A ground-breaking study reveals that seven in 10 workers are self-employed or in small businesses, a finding that has significant implications for employment and enterprise support policies world-wide.

Informality

Lima’s Gamarra market: The benefits of moving to the formal economy

09 October 2019

Combating informality is key to governments’ efforts to reduce inequality and social exclusion. This is particularly true in Peru where many employees work in informal conditions.

Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Debate on regulating digital labour platforms is crucial

02 September 2019

The ILO Director-General highlighted the need for policies to deal with the challenges of web-based labour platforms. Some form of regulation is needed, Guy Ryder said at the meeting of G20 Labour and Employment Ministers in Matsuyama, Japan.