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Waste pickers (who are also known as reclaimers in South Africa) are workers engaged in collecting recyclable materials gathered from refuse, landfill sites and elsewhere, which they sell for a living. Although there are some waste pickers who work for someone else, most waste pickers have created their own jobs, and work for themselves: in other words they are self-employed. Across the country waste pickers are starting to organize as they recognize that this will help them to win recognition for the work that they do and to advance their collective interests. This booklet aims to assist them in this process by explaining the different kinds of collective organizations that they can form and identifying some of the key issues that they should consider when forming organizations.
This book profiles waste pickers, the organisations and networks that they have formed and the struggles that they are waging in a number of countries.
Organizing In The Informal Economy: Resource Books For Organizers.
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All six books are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Workers’ Education Materials on the Informal Economy General Informal Economy Materials Building Democratic Worker Organisation and Representation in the Informal Economy (2006) (pdf file 791 Kb) This training manual is a two-part guide for worker educators to use in training and planning for (i) trade union organisation in the informal economy and (ii) for building democratic organisation among worker activists in the informal economy. It is produced by the International Federation of Workers' Education Associations (IFWEA). The manual assumes that its primary users are trade union representatives, informal economy organisation representatives or staff members who have responsibility for education programmes. It is not assumed that the reader has formal training in worker education, and the manual includes guidance notes throughout, as well as a supplementary module on facilitation skills for those with less experience. The materials were originally developed as part of an IFWEA project on informal economy organising in Southern & East Africa. (Dicks, Crystal. 2006. Building Democratic Worker Organisation and Representation in the Informal Economy. IFWEA). Organising Workers in the Informal Economy (2008) A Resource Pack for Worker Educators This is a DVD aimed at developing awareness and understanding of the informal economy. It was originally designed as a tool for British-based worker educators with an interest in developing and implementing programmes on the informal economy, but is also of value to wider international audience of educators, researchers and activists. The DVD contains Build Rights, Build Unions: three short films designed to promote discussion among trade unionists about the informal economy, along with a wealth of other material, including an accompanying education manual. The films, along with details on how to order the DVD in full, are available at http://www.ifwea.org/resources/0001.html.
This manual is focused is on trade union strategies to obtain a better legal status and uphold legal rights for informal workers. It was produced by the former World Confederation of Labour (WCL), now part of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). It is intended for use for presentations and/or training, and contains information, activities, and questions. The manual consists of four sections: the theory, the practice (including case studies from Ghana, Colombia and Sri Lanka) and ten possible practical actions. (Bosse, Claire. 2005. Ten Trade Union Actions to strengthen the status of workers in the informal economy. WCL) Cooperatives & Informal Economy Lets Organise! This handbook for trade unions and cooperatives about organizing workers in the informal economy is produced by ‘Syndicoop’ - a joint project of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. The handbook is for organizers from the trade union and cooperative movements who will be helping groups of informal economy workers. It can also be used by facilitators providing training for organizers. The handbook is not intended for the workers in the informal economy. It is for organizers, who will work with them. The handbook provides an orientation for those trying to organize in the informal economy, introduces the SYNDICOOP approach, describes some lessons learned from the project, and provides some simple tools for organizers. (Smith, Stirling. 2006. Lets Organise!. ICFTU, ILO, ICA) Available at: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---emp_ent/documents/publication/wcms_094047.pdf (pdf file 2.93 Mb) Handbook on Cooperatives for use by Workers’ Organisations This comprehensive ILO handbook lists the essential things to know about cooperatives for all those who are interested as members, future members, politicians or staff of national or international institutions in charge of the promotion and development of cooperatives. In simple, understandable language, the handbook deals in turn with the characteristic features of cooperatives, cooperative enterprise as a whole, the promotion of cooperatives and the close ties that exist between the ILO and cooperatives. (Tchami, Guy. 2007. Handbook on cooperatives for use of Workers’ Organizations. ILO, Geneva) Available at: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---emp_ent/documents/publication/wcms_094046.pdf (pdf file 417 Kb) Gender & Informal Ecomomy
This manual is designed for trade unionists, both men and women, who are interested in making their union stronger and more representative by promoting gender equality, at the workplace and in the unions. The first part deals with issues which are high priorities for women workers and so, by taking them up, unions will impress and attract more women to become members. The second part highlights methods of organising which have been shown to increase women’s membership of unions, encourage confidence and activism among women members, and ensure that women’s voices are heard better in the unions, and their concerns are taken up. The section “Bringing more women into unions” includes useful material on the informal economy. (Mather, Celia. 2007. All for one = One for All, International Union of Foodworkers) Enhancing African Trade Unions’ Capacity for promoting Gender Equality (pdf file 126 Kb) This manual was produced by the ILO and Organisation for African Trade Union Unity (OATUU), as part of their Gender Project for African Trade Unions (GEPATU). It is part of the OATUU and ILO’s effort to ensure that trade unions develop the culture of mainstreaming gender in their day-to-day activities and into the culture of their organisations. The tools contained in the manual are expected to enhance the promotion of equality and decent work for both men and women. They were developed with assistance from the ILO’s Bureau for Gender Equality and trade unions from Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Sudan and Tanzania. The third Module “Gender and the Informal Economy” examines women workers’ concerns and other gender dimensions of the informal economy, comprehensive strategies required and some guidelines for the role of the trade unions. (Date-Bah, Eugenia et al. 2006. Enhancing African Trade Unions’ Capacity for promoting Gender Equality, ILO/OATUU) The full manual is available from: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/gender/docs/RES/449/F256397965/GEPATUs%20gender%20training%20manual.pdf Social Protection & Informal Economy Tools for Advocacy: Social Protection for Informal Workers This set of learning materials drawn from workshop discussions at the Asia Social Protection Dialogue in Bangkok, 2004, where there were participants from eight countries in Asia: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The materials reflect this regional experience, but many of the situations and problems are experienced by informal workers worldwide. The materials are meant to be used by organizations and networks of informal workers, by groups of informal workers or by individual workers. They deal with the following six topics: an introduction to informal employment and social protection; value chains and social protection; health insurance; occupational health and safety; child care; organizations, networks and alliances. Available in English (pdf file 335 Kb) and Urdu (pdf file 821 Kb) (Lund, Francie & Nicholson, Jillian (eds). 2006. Tools for Advocacy: Social Protection for Informal Workers, WIEGO & HomeNet Thailand.) Home-Based Workers
The aim of this manual is to provide guidelines, ideas and processes to assist you to develop approaches to campaigning. The manual breaks down a campaign into distinct areas and offers practical ways to develop a planned approach that encourages participation and leadership from homeworkers. In addition, it promotes the use of visible props and creative actions to educate consumers, form alliances with a range of organisations and individuals, and work in solidarity with unions and worker organisations. (Delaney, Annie. 2004. Campaigns at Work - A guide to campaigning for homeworker organisations, HomeWorkers Worldwide.) Street Vendors Street Traders & their Organisations in South Africa (pdf file 627 Kb) This booklet was produced by StreetNet International and the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE), with the support of the ILO, and describes how street traders started organising in Johannesburg and Durban. The booklet is based on research done by Shirin Motala in 2001, as part of a bigger ILO research project on the informal economy in different parts of the world. The main aim of the research and booklet is to help build strong local and national organisations so that street traders can speak with one voice and influence policy makers. (Budlender, Debbie. 2003. Street Traders & their Organisations in South Africa, ILO). Waste Workers Organising waste management workers: the South African experience (pdf file 469 Kb) This booklet was produced by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) and the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE), with the support of the ILO, This booklet describes how workers and employers have organised in South Africa’s waste management sector. The booklet is based on research done in South Africa in 2003 as part of a multi-country ILO project on organising in the informal economy, and was intended for general reading, or as a resource for educators or facilitators on organising waste workers. (Budlender, Debbie. 2005. Organising waste management workers: the South African experience, ILO). Domestic Workers Manual for Domestic Workers – Organising for a Better Future (2008) This manual aims to assist the leaders of domestic worker groups to come out of a powerless situation by “embracing the strength of the domestic worker organisation or trade union”, particularly in the context of the campaign for the ILO Convention on domestic workers in 2010-11. It was the initiative of the Asian Domestic Workers’ Network and the Committee for Asian Women, and based on the outcomes of a ‘Domestic Workers Organising Strategy Workshop’ held in 2007. The manual specifically draws experiences from Indonesia, Hong Kong and India, and concentrates on the means of building solidarity and strong organisation at national, regional and international levels. (Papachan, Suguna. 2008. Manual for Domestic Workers – Organising for a Better Future, CAW, Hong Kong) Available at http://www.cawinfo.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/domestic-workers-manual-caw_final-layout-for-web.pdf (pdf file 542 Kb) Also available in Bahasa Indonesian at http://www.cawinfo.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/manual_bm_final.pdf (pdf file 572 Kb) Transport Workers Organising in the taxi industry: the South African experience This booklet was produced by the South African Transport & Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) and the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE), with the support of the ILO, and describes how workers and employers started organising in South Africa’s kombi (mini van) taxi industry, which is mainly in the informal economy. The booklet is based on research done by the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU) in 2001, as part of a bigger ILO research project on the informal economy in different parts of the world. The booklet is intended as an educational tool for trade union organisers and taxi workers. (Budlender, Debbie. 2003. Organising in the taxi industry: the South African experience, ILO). Available at http://www.ilo.org/dyn/infoecon/docs/320/F416550816/taxi.pdf (pdf file 1.72 Mb) AIDS/HIV & Informal Economy
This extensive manual is designed to help ILO’s partners understand the issues and apply the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, which was adopted in May 2001. Module 8 of the manual is concerned with the informal economy, and is aimed at policy-makers in government, employers’ and workers’ organizations. Those involved in running associations in the informal economy, or providing education and support services for entrepreneurs and workers, should also find it useful. The module includes a case study of sex workers in Ethiopia. The full manual is available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/trav/aids/publ/manualen.htm
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1. Recruiting Informal Workers into Democratic Workers’ Organisations 
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