Extension of Social Security to Informal Sector workers, Self Employed and Atypical Workers Consultative Workshop

The ILO in collaboration with UNWOMEN and WIEGO partnered with the Department of Social Development (DSD) to host a consultative workshop with informal sector workers, self-employed and atypical workers in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape on 10 and 11 August 2022.

The key focus of the workshop was to consult on DSD’s draft policy proposals on the extension of social security in the form of retirement provisions to informal sector workers, self-employed and atypical workers.

The workshop was attended by more than fifty participants including women and youth, who were given the opportunity to engage on the policy proposals presented by DSD and provide feedback on the appropriate retirement provisions for workers in the informal sector.
Currently, South Africa’s social security system does not have provisions for those outside formal employment and workers in the informal sector often cannot afford to contribute to voluntary retirement systems, therefore, most of the workers retire without any from of income and are subjected to poverty and destitution in old age.

The consultation led to a consensus being reached that DSD should proceed to establish a fund where informal sector workers and self-employed will contribute to and save for retirement.
Participants also expressed that the fund should cater for medical benefits which are deemed expensive in the private market and not affordable to workers in the informal sector. Mechanisms that will promote and make it easy for contributions were suggested.
DSD acknowledged the contributions and suggestions made by the participants, which will be key to strengthen and finalising policy.

The ILO continues to partner with government and support its initiatives on extending social security to those who are currently excluded, including informal sector workers to ensure that no one is left behind.