Resolution 20: Globalisation and the informal economy

The Third International Congress of StreetNet

NOTING

1. Informal economy activities are a key feature in many parts of the world, both in planned and unplanned areas, and form a crucial part of the economy as a source of livelihood;
2. Informal economy activities have been accommodated in urban and rural areas. Informal economy activities have arisen spontaneously as a result of rural – urban migration without corresponding availability of formal employment opportunities and other income-generating activities;

NOTING FURTHER

1. That the effects of the global financial crisis affected, and continue to mainly affect the poorest in the world;
2. That the way to overcome poverty and live with dignity lies in having opportunities to obtain and retain decent work based on rights, protection and social dialogue;
3. In the world of work, the most affected have been self-employed workers in the informal economy, the most visible impact being on street vendors, especially women;
4. The current crisis has lessened the income of street vendors by 60% of what they received previously;
5. The needs and extreme poverty that informal traders are now suffering because of the crisis has forced parents and children to go out and sell any products they can to survive the crisis.

HEREBY RESOLVES

1. StreetNet International and its affiliates should ensure that governments in various countries should facilitate the provision of land and land use planning to enable the development of informal commercial activities in a more ordered and sustainable manner;
2. Governments should put in place mechanisms to allow for informal activities in planned areas;
3. Governments should designate areas where informal activities can be carried out;
4. Governments should institute mechanisms to manage rural-urban migration such as decentralisation development to rural areas and minor urban areas;
5. StreetNet should petition the Committee of Experts of the ILO to promote compliance (with monitoring) with programmes for the extension of Decent Work in the self-employed workers’ sector of the informal economy adopted by member states of the ILO at International Labour Conferences since 2002;
6. StreetNet affiliates should promote the implementation of Decent Work for All programmes in the countries where StreetNet has affiliated organisations of self-employed workers in the informal economy including street vendors;
7. StreetNet should aim to promote decent work throughout all aspects of economic activity, which also covers self-employed workers in the informal economy, applying an approach oriented towards development, poverty reduction and gender equality;
8. Through education and technical training of all affiliated members, StreetNet should impart knowledge on the objectives of Decent Work.

PROPOSED: KENASVIT and FEDEVAL