The Informal Economy and Street Vendors
Women in the Informal Economy
Women work disproportionately in informal jobs, from home-based work to domestic labour, often earning less and with less recognition.
The informal economy has a gender dimension.
Kinds of work
Women work as vendors, domestic workers, home-based producers and agricultural labourers.
Pay
Earnings are often lower, and work may be unrecorded, especially when done at home.
Double burden
Many also handle unpaid care work, limiting the hours they can sell.
Support
Groups like SEWA, founded in Ahmedabad in 1972, organise informal women workers.
A home-based worker
She rolls incense sticks at home for a contractor who pays by the piece.
Ignoring unpaid work
It shapes how much paid work women can do.
Key takeaways
- Women are concentrated in informal jobs.
- Pay is lower.
- Unpaid care limits time.
- SEWA organises workers.
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