Increasing political leverage for informal and formal workers

Creating effective support structures for trade unions and informal sector workers associations to advance effective decent work policies

Lead by Dr Mayke Kaag, African Studies Centre Leiden

Scroll for more

About the research group

More than 75 per cent of sub Saharan Africa’s workforce works in the informal economy. The needs and conditions of informal workers are, therefore, important determinants of the inclusiveness of growth and employment. The International Labour Organization’s Decent Work criteria relating to health and safety, job security, social protection and social dialogue often do not apply to informal jobs. The INCLUDE research project ‘Increasing Political Leverage for Informal and Formal Workers’ Organizations for Inclusive Development’ is studying the role and impact of trade unions and informal workers’ organisations in Ghana and Benin when they act as strategic actors for inclusive development, in particular by studying their political leverage over decent work for informal workers.

Consortium
  • International Institute for the Advanced Study of Cultures, Institutions and Economic Enterprise (IIAS), Ghana
  • Institute for Work and Society (HIVA), Belgium
  • Faculty of Economics Sciences and Management at University of Abomey Calavi (FASEG-UAC), Benin
  • Confederation des Organisations Syndicales Independantes (COSI), Benin
  • Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Ghana
  • Trades Union Congress Ghana (TUC-G), Ghana
  • CNV International, the Netherlands
  • FNV Mondiaal, the Netherlands
  • StreetNet International, South Africa
Main question
  • How to improve political leverage over decent work issues for informal workers by informal workers’ organizations and trade unions in Ghana and Benin?
Country focus
  • Ghana
  • Benin