Publications on informal economy

  1. Book

    Is the future ready for youth?

    18 March 2021

    How do we ensure that the policymakers and the global community prioritize youth employment, so essential for sustainable development and social justice? This book brings together contributions from ILO with broad global experience in successful youth employment policies. They discuss the policies needed to address the challenge, in a time of rapid transformation, of achieving a better future for the youth.

  2. Questions & answers

    The role of social dialogue and the social partners in addressing the consequences of COVID-19 in the informal economy

    29 October 2020

  3. COVID-19 Pandemic in the World of Work

    ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work. 6th edition

    23 September 2020

  4. Paper

    Building back better for women: Women's dire position in the informal economy

    15 September 2020

  5. COVID-19

    Answering key questions around informality in micro and small enterprises during the COVID-19 crisis

    14 September 2020

  6. Social Protection Spotlight COVID-19

    Extending social protection to informal workers in the COVID-19 crisis. Country responses and policy considerations

    04 September 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis and its economic and social impacts are particularly harsh for workers in the informal economy and their families. Almost 1.6 billion informal workers are affected by the lockdown and containment measures and/or are working in the hardest-hit sectors.

  7. ILO Country brief

    COVID-19 and the labour market in Argentina: The challenge of fighting the pandemic and its socio-economic impact at a time of severe difficulty

    03 September 2020

  8. ILO Country brief

    Rapid Diagnostic Assessment of Employment Impacts under COVID-19 in Lebanon

    03 September 2020

  9. ILO Country study

    Rapid Country Assessment: South Africa - The impacts from a COVID-19 shock to South Africa's economy and labour market

    03 September 2020

    This rapid assessment considers the likely impact of the COVID crisis on enterprises and livelihoods and incomes of workers – regular and non-regular, protected and unprotected. It checks the policy responses to the economic crisis and examines initiatives to protect both enterprises and workers, especially the most vulnerable in South Africa.

  10. 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