Publications on informal economy

  1. Policy resource package

    Extending social security to domestic workers

    12 March 2021

    Key lessons learned from international experience

  2. Policy resource package

    Extending social security to workers in the informal economy

    12 March 2021

    Key lessons learned from international experience

  3. Global Deal for Decent Work & Inclusive Growth - Thematic Brief

    Social Dialogue for the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy

    20 November 2020

    Social dialogue has a vital role to play in supporting the transition from the informal to the formal economy. Drawing on case studies from around the world, this Global Deal thematic brief illustrates how social dialogue, involving governments and representative employers’ and workers’ organizations has, in different ways and at different levels, contributed to the transition to formality and the reduction of decent work deficits in the informal economy. It aims to assist all concerned stakeholders to apply social dialogue for the design and implementation of effective formalization strategies, in the context of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the relevant international labour standards.

  4. Brief

    Employers and workers negotiating measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, protect livelihoods and support recovery: A review of practice

    03 July 2020

  5. Factsheet

    Impact of the COVID-19 crisis on loss of jobs and hours among domestic workers

    15 June 2020

    The ILO estimates that, in the early stages of the pandemic, on 15 March 2020, 49.3% of domestic workers were significantly impacted. This figure peaked at 73.7% on 15 May, before reducing to 72.3% on 4 June.

  6. Factsheet

    Beyond contagion or starvation: Giving domestic workers another way forward

    05 May 2020

    In the wake of COVID-19, governments around the world have called on people to take one most important action: to stay home. But for many workers, staying home has meant losing their jobs, or worse still, losing their livelihoods.

  7. Publication

    Advancing domestic workers’ rights through cooperatives in Trinidad and Tobago: An ILO, NUDE and SWCC initiative

    18 April 2018

    This brief summarizes one example of the ILO’s work in advancing domestic workers’ cooperatives. The ILO supported the National Union of Domestic Workers (NUDE) in Trinidad and Tobago to provide their members with access to employment opportunities and improved working conditions through a cooperative society.

  8. Conditions of Work and Employment Series No. 95

    Conceptualizing the role of intermediaries in formalizing domestic work

    04 April 2018

  9. Domestic Work Policy Brief no. 10

    Formalizing domestic work

    23 June 2017

    This document is part of a series of briefs on issues and approaches to promoting decent work for domestic workers.

  10. MDW Information Guide

    Information Guide for Domestic Workers in Zimbabwe

    22 July 2016

    As part of the GAP-MDW Zimbabwe/Lesotho-South Africa migration corridor project, this information guide has been created for domestic workers in Zimbabwe.