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Context: For many businesses, one of the key indicators in their management is the adaptation of Information Technology in their operations. In Kenya, there has been a phenomenal growth in access to mobile phones, by June 2023, over 66 million mobile phones were connected to various telecommunication operators of which 58.3% were smart phones constituting 67.1% of internet connections. There are many digital technologies which can be adapted to facilitate the processing, dissemination, and access of information. The modern world has become competitive due to the uptake of Information Technology as one of the main business management skill, with the availability of smart phones and many applications that are easily available and easy to use. One of the main beneficiaries of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) is the Jua Kali artisans who are a key player in the Kenyan economy. Entrepreneurial competencies help the growth of businesses along the dimension of innovation. Kenya intends to entrench the use of Information Technology for public service delivery, business, skills, and innovation. The Jua Kali sector cannot be ignored, it contributes more than 80% of the total employment in Kenya. Approach: This research was carried out in the Eastlands of Nairobi, Kenya. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an interview and observation schedule. The study used an interview schedule to collect data from Jua Kali artisans carrying out their artisan businesses in the Eastlands of Nairobi and a questionnaire survey to collect data from a sample of identified Nairobi residents who had engaged an artisan to work for them six months prior to the research. Findings: The research established that most Jua Kali artisans acquired their skills in the Jua Kali sector by apprenticeship (86.3%) while a small percentage (12.7%) trained in Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions while a further one percent were trained by their former employers. Most of the artisans had attained the basic formal education qualifications i.e. primary education (27.9%) and secondary education (47.6%). The Chi-square (?²) test was used to test the relationship between use of the basic social media digital platforms in business management and the formal education attained by artisans owning artisan businesses. Conclusion: At 0.05 level of significance (a) the research established that there is a significant relationship between the adaptation of digital platforms in business management and the formal education attained by the artisans.

Background: Enrolment of informal sector workers in Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is critical to achieving increased risk-pooling and attainment of Universal Health Coverage. However, the NHIS has struggled over the years to improve enrolment of this subpopulation. This study analysed effect of social capital on enrolment of informal sector workers in the NHIS., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 528 members of hairdressers and beauticians, farmers, and commercial road transport drivers' groups. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and multinomial logit regression model were used to analyse the data., Results: Social capital including membership in occupational group, trust, and collective action were significantly associated with enrolment in the NHIS, overall. Other factors such as household size, education, ethnicity, and usual source of health care were, however, correlated with both enrolment and dropout. Notwithstanding these factors, the chance of enrolling in the NHIS and staying active was 44.6% higher for the hairdressers and beauticians; the probability of dropping out of the scheme was 62.9% higher for the farmers; and the chance of never enrolling in the scheme was 22.3% higher for the commercial road transport drivers., Conclusions: Social capital particularly collective action and predominantly female occupational groups are key determinants of informal sector workers' participation in the NHIS. Policy interventions to improve enrolment of this subpopulation should consider group enrolment, targeting female dominated informal sector occupational groups. Further studies should consider inclusion of mediating and moderating variables to provide a clearer picture of the relationship between occupational group social capital and enrolment in health insurance schemes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study uses survey data from the 2015 World Bank Enterprises Survey of firms operating in 9 provinces in Indonesia. Barriers to doing business in Indonesia for companies are calculated and ranked, and then qualitative methods are used to complete the discussion. This study aims to provide an overview and basis for these constraints so that the central and regional governments can collaborate in making policies that can support the progress of the business world through identification and mapping out barriers to doing business in Indonesia. The aid results show that the main obstacles to doing business in Indonesia in 2015 were the practices of competitors from the informal sector, political instability, and tax rates. The results of this study indicate that since starting a business in Indonesia, firms have been faced with difficulties in obtaining permits that are not in accordance with applicable regulations. For instance, data processing results show that of the firms that apply for business licenses in Indonesia, only 51.41% obtain operating license issuance services following regulations.

Abstract Background Enrolment of informal sector workers in Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is critical to achieving increased risk-pooling and attainment of Universal Health Coverage. However, the NHIS has struggled over the years to improve enrolment of this subpopulation. This study analysed effect of social capital on enrolment of informal sector workers in the NHIS. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 528 members of hairdressers and beauticians, farmers, and commercial road transport drivers’ groups. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and multinomial logit regression model were used to analyse the data. Results Social capital including membership in occupational group, trust, and collective action were significantly associated with enrolment in the NHIS, overall. Other factors such as household size, education, ethnicity, and usual source of health care were, however, correlated with both enrolment and dropout. Notwithstanding these factors, the chance of enrolling in the NHIS and staying active was 44.6% higher for the hairdressers and beauticians; the probability of dropping out of the scheme was 62.9% higher for the farmers; and the chance of never enrolling in the scheme was 22.3% higher for the commercial road transport drivers. Conclusions Social capital particularly collective action and predominantly female occupational groups are key determinants of informal sector workers’ participation in the NHIS. Policy interventions to improve enrolment of this subpopulation should consider group enrolment, targeting female dominated informal sector occupational groups. Further studies should consider inclusion of mediating and moderating variables to provide a clearer picture of the relationship between occupational group social capital and enrolment in health insurance schemes.

Retirement planning is viewed as one of the cornerstones of long-term household financial security. The responsibility of retirement planning has now been shifted to the individual and is no longer the responsibility of the employer.

In developing countries, informal sector is the primary job provider for a significant portion of the workforce. This study aims to analyze how jobs in the informal sector affect the unemployment dynamics of developing nations. To achieve this goal, we formulate a nonlinear mathematical model by categorizing the considered workforce into three distinct classes: unemployed, employed, and self-employed, and include a separate dynamic variable to represent vacancies within the informal sector. The proposed model is analyzed using the qualitative theory of dynamical systems. A threshold quantity known as the reproduction number is derived and using this, one can compute the job generation rate necessary to stabilize the system. It is observed that variations in the reproduction number lead to qualitative changes, such as transcritical (forward or backward) and saddle-node bifurcations in the formulated system. Moreover, we propose an optimal control problem to determine an optimal strategy for government policy implementation in enhancing the employment rate of unemployed individuals and promoting the self-employment of informal employees inside the informal sector. Further, the analytical findings are validated numerically. The obtained results suggest that promoting the self-employment of informal employees for job generation effectively reduces unemployment.

Background: Rates of exclusive breastfeeding fall below recommended levels, particularly among women in paid employment. In Mexico, more than half of women are in informal employment, meaning they lack many of the protections that may support breastfeeding., Methods: In-depth interviews with 15 key informants representing government agencies (n = 6 organizations), NGOs (n = 4), international organizations (n = 2), and academia (n = 2) in Mexico. Interviews were conducted between March and June 2023. To understand and describe barriers to breastfeeding among informally employed women in Mexico according to key informants and the current and potential policies to address these barriers, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis., Results: Current policies to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding predominantly apply to all employed women, but respondents expressed concern that they did not provide adequate protection for women in informal employment. Additional themes concerned the need for relevant programs to be institutionalized and coordinated, discussions of breastfeeding as a right, and the legal equivalence (whether true in practice or not) of formal and informal workers., Conclusions: Women employed in Mexico's informal sector face a dearth of maternity protections. According to key informants, few policies exist to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding among employed women, in general, but the economic vulnerability and challenging working conditions of women in informal employment exacerbates their situation. The lack of access to formal labor protections, such as paid maternity leave, creates a significant barrier to breastfeeding for women in the informal sector. Recommendations include short-term policies to fill gaps in social protection for informally employed women, as well as longer-term solutions such as the development of universal social protection programs and supporting formalization., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose This research aims to look at the description of the characteristics and factors that influence the categories of income levels under class (vulnerable and poor) and aspiring middle class in informal sector labor in Indonesia 2022. Design/methodology/approach The dataset from raw data of the National Labor Survey (SAKERNAS) in February 2022 collected by Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS). This research used the ordinal logistic regression, model of partial proportional odds (PPOM). The dependent variable used is the income level category based on the classification determined by World Bank. Findings This research finds that 58 percent of the population are informal labor. The results of the analysis show that the level of education, job training, work experience, type of work, age, gender, marital status, working hours, and residential area classification have a significant effect on income level categories. Research limitations/implications This research only includes sample of informal sector labor who have income and based on the main job status classification from BPS. Originality/value In this research, income of informal sector labor are categorized based on classification determined by World Bank. Then there has not been much research on the characteristics of informal sector labor and what influences the level of their income category.

Abstract Background Rates of exclusive breastfeeding fall below recommended levels, particularly among women in paid employment. In Mexico, more than half of women are in informal employment, meaning they lack many of the protections that may support breastfeeding. Methods In-depth interviews with 15 key informants representing government agencies (n = 6 organizations), NGOs (n = 4), international organizations (n = 2), and academia (n = 2) in Mexico. Interviews were conducted between March and June 2023. To understand and describe barriers to breastfeeding among informally employed women in Mexico according to key informants and the current and potential policies to address these barriers, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis. Results Current policies to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding predominantly apply to all employed women, but respondents expressed concern that they did not provide adequate protection for women in informal employment. Additional themes concerned the need for relevant programs to be institutionalized and coordinated, discussions of breastfeeding as a right, and the legal equivalence (whether true in practice or not) of formal and informal workers. Conclusions Women employed in Mexico’s informal sector face a dearth of maternity protections. According to key informants, few policies exist to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding among employed women, in general, but the economic vulnerability and challenging working conditions of women in informal employment exacerbates their situation. The lack of access to formal labor protections, such as paid maternity leave, creates a significant barrier to breastfeeding for women in the informal sector. Recommendations include short-term policies to fill gaps in social protection for informally employed women, as well as longer-term solutions such as the development of universal social protection programs and supporting formalization.

Shortage of formal jobs, lack of skills in workforce and increasing human population proliferate the informal sector. This sector provides an opportunity to unskilled workers to gain skills along with earnings. In this paper, a deterministic nonlinear mathematical model is developed to study the effects of informal skill learning and job generation on unemployment. For the formulated system, feasibility of equilibria and their stability properties are discussed. A pertinent quantity ( ℛ 0 ), known as the reproduction number, is calculated and it is shown that the formulated system undergoes transcritical, saddle-node, Hopf and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcations on the variation of ℛ 0 . The analytically obtained results are validated through numerical simulations. The results obtained from this study indicate that a substantial rate of job generation by self-employed individuals has a stabilizing effect on the system. Moreover, self-employment along with informal skill acquisition through engaging in informal work proves to be an effective measure in curbing the issue of unemployment in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores employment in the informal sector across Russian northern regions and studies factors that affect the employment rate in this sector. The research aims to examine various facets of this subject, encompassing the role of informal employment in job creation. Drawing on data from international organizations, domestic research, and statistics, the study reveals the significant role played by the informal sector in the country’s economy. Utilizing a production approach, the article analyzes the structure of informal employment in the northern regions of Russia and identifies three groups of factors influencing employment rates. For these three groups, indicators were chosen that formed the basis for the analysis of employment trends in the informal sector. Using official statistics for 2005-2022 while considering the comparability of data collection and processing methods, the study assesses the level of informal employment in northern regions and studies how it is influenced by the economic factors under question. Despite a high Gross Regional Product (GRP) per capita, the study reveals that existing institutions do not contribute to the population settling in the North. The article highlights variations in informal employment rates. It underscores the importance of stimulating sector formalization, improving the quality of life in the North, and supporting economic growth. The study’s results can inform regional policies addressing employment and social services.

The informal sector is characterized by limited relations with the tax authorities, which reduces the tax base. As a result, governments are forced to resort to other sources of financing, including public debt policy. This study provides an opportunity to analyze the relationship between the development of informal activities, changes in the general price level, and tax revenues in the case of Côte d’Ivoire. To this end, we empirically address this issue with the help of a linear econometric time series model over the period 1987-2020, using cointegration techniques. On the basis of the prediction of the linear model, the empirical results reveal that the Ivorian state would be rational if the policy of financing the economy were based on increasing the general price level to the detriment of taxes because of the extent of the development of informal activities. In addition, the Ganger causality test shows two significant unidirectional causalities. One from the informal sector to tax revenues and the other from price increases to tax revenues.

Objective: We examine the socioeconomic and health drivers of retirement decisions and compare these determinants between formal and informal sector workers in Mexico., Materials and Methods: Using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study 2012 and 2015, we estimate conditional probit models of retirement using sociodemographic, health, health care utilization, health insurance, private pensions, and social security systems covariates. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Southern California reviewed and approved the research (IRB # UP-15-00023)., Results: We find that the social security systems are an important determinant for retirement age for formal sector workers. The informal sector workers, who lack access to retirement benefits of the social security system, make retirement decisions mainly based on health and access to health insurance through social security., Conclusion: Despite the lack of access to social security benefits, informal sector workers do not respond strongly to socioeconomic factors in determining the timing of retirement. Strengthening access to better health care services could improve health, extend working lives, and promote healthy aging for workers in the informal sector.

Laili Rahayuwati,1 Syahmida S Arsyad,2,* Rindang Ekawati,2,* Muhammad Dawam,2,* Rahmadewi Rahmadewi,2,* Septi Nurhayati,2,* Ikhsan Fahmi,3,* Sherllina Rizqi Fauziah4 1Department of Community Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 2Research Centre for Population, National Research and Innovation Agency, South Jakarta, Indonesia; 3Directorate of Population and Labour Statistics, BPS Statistics Indonesia, Central Jakarta, Indonesia; 4Nursing Science Study Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Laili Rahayuwati, Department of Community Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung Sumedang, KM. 21., Jatinangor, Kabupaten Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia, Tel +62 812 213 8385, Fax +62 22 779 5596, Email laili.rahayuwati@unpad.ac.idAim: As individuals age, they are expected to experience a natural progression that usually involves a slight and permanent decrease in bodily functions and physical abilities. Despite this, many older people remain active in the workforce.Purpose: This study seeks to explore the correlation between the health conditions, disabilities, social factors, and demographic circumstances of elderly individuals engaged in both formal and informal employment sectors.Methods: This study utilizes an observational analytical method with a cross-sectional structure. The participants in the research involved all individuals aged 60 years and above who met the outlined criteria, totaling 15,034,946 respondents. The data analysis was conducted using multivariate logistic regression in Model II.Results: Overall, most older adults are working in informal jobs. Moreover, most respondents are 60– 69 years old, married, have a primary school certificate, own health insurance and a house, and live with family. In addition, the multivariate analysis shows the relationship between each variable and the informal sector working elderly. It is known that older women have a 1.45 times higher limited educational background, not having savings is 1.21 times, rural areas living 1.93 times, not being the head of the family is linked 1.34 times, poor health conditions are 1.01 times, and having a disability has a 1.20 times higher likelihood of informal-sector employment.Conclusion: Several variables are assigned as the determinants that increase the number of elderly working in informal sectors, including gender, education level, savings ownership, living areas, head of the family role, health status, and disability.Keywords: determinants, elderly, informal, sector, work

This paper analyzes the effects of an unfunded pension system on economic growth using an extended overlapping generations model to include the informal sector. Emerging countries usually have a more significant informal sector than advanced ones. The findings based on the Thai economy data suggest that an increase in unfunded pension payouts and the noncontributory old-age allowance induces lower output and changes the consumption profiles of the workers. Furthermore, it reduces households’ incentives to save and provide labor, especially among formal workers, which lowers the physical capital stock in the new steady state.

Background: Zimbabwe's tax-based healthcare financing model has been characterised by perennial financing deficits and widespread application of user fees and has thus been socially exclusive. The country's urban informal sector population is not spared from these challenges. The study explored the potential demand for National Health Insurance (NHI) among respondents from selected urban informal sector clusters of Harare. The following clusters were targeted: Glenview furniture complex, Harare home industries, Mupedzanhamo flea market, Mbare new wholesale market and Mbare retail market., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 388 respondents from the selected clusters, and data on the determinants of Willingness to Join (WTJ) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) was gathered. Respondents were recruited via a multi-stage sampling procedure. In the first stage, the five informal sector clusters were purposely selected. The second stage involved a proportional allocation of respondents by cluster size. Finally, based on the stalls allocated by municipal authorities in each area, respondents were selected using systematic sampling. The sampling interval (k) was determined by dividing the total number of allocated stalls in a cluster (N) by the sample size proportionate to that cluster (n). For each cluster, the first stall (respondent) was randomly chosen, and thereafter, a respondent from every 10th stall was selected and interviewed at their workplace. Contingent valuation was adopted to elicit WTP. Logit models and interval regression were applied for the econometric analyses., Results: A total of 388 respondents participated in the survey. The dominant informal sector activity among the surveyed clusters was the sale of clothing and shoes (39.2%), followed by the sale of agricultural products (27.1%). Concerning employment status, the majority were own-account workers (73.1%). Most of the respondents (84.8%) completed secondary school. On monthly income from informal sector activities, the highest frequency (37.1%) was observed in the Zw$(1000 to <3000) or US$(28.57 to <85.71) category. The mean age of respondents was 36 years. Out of the 388 respondents, 325 (83.8%) were willing to join the proposed NHI scheme. WTJ was influenced by the following factors: health insurance awareness, health insurance perception, membership to a resource-pooling scheme, solidarity with the sick, and household recently experiencing difficulties paying for healthcare. On average, respondents were willing to pay Zw$72.13 (approximately US$2.06) per person per month. The key determinants of WTP were household size, respondent's education level, income, and health insurance perception., Conclusions: Since the majority of respondents from the sampled clusters were willing to join and pay for the contributory NHI scheme, it follows that there is potential to implement the scheme for the urban informal sector workers from the clusters studied. However, some issues require careful consideration. The informal sector workers need to be educated on the concept of risk pooling and the benefits of being members of an NHI scheme. Household size and income are factors that require special attention when deciding on the premiums for the scheme. Moreover, given that price instability hurts financial products such as health insurance, there is a need for ensuring macroeconomic stability., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Chipunza, Nhamo. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Food insecurity indicates the difficulty of constantly obtaining adequate food because of limited economic resources. Food insecurity challenges the desired health outcomes. Although extensive literature has examined the associations between food security and health, low-wage informal sector workers have been less frequently addressed in this topic. The present study has focused on food insecurity among the workers working in the informal sector enterprises who experienced entrenched disadvantage during COVID-19 and examines the relationship between food insecurity and health status as measured by self-reported physical and mental health conditions., Methods: This study has utilized cross-sectional data collected from workers working in informal manufacturing and business enterprises in Dhaka city of Bangladesh. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) with eight items is used to screen for food insecurity, and the Short Form 12v2 (SF12v2) scale with 12 questions, and validated for use with Bengali respondents, is used to measure the health status of the informal workers. A health production function has been constructed where the health status (both physical and mental) of workers is associated with food insecurity and other socio-economic and health care factors. Empirical analyses of the study have included descriptive statistics, mean score comparisons, and multivariate regression analyses to identify the predictive factors of the physical and mental health status of the workers., Results: A moderate to severe food insecurity is found to be responsible for the poor health status (both physical and mental) of the selected working group population. Moreover, age over 40 years, having a large family, dissatisfaction with the work place, and the prevalence of occupational health risks are linked to lower physical health, while dissatisfaction with the work place and the incidence of severe diseases contribute to poor mental health status along with food insecurity., Conclusions: Extending social and economic protection towards health coverage and basic consumption is suggested as an immediate action to save lives and ensure productivity of the informal workers. Besides, an increase in income and ensuring decent working conditions are also recommended for the health, safety and satisfaction of workers working in informal sector enterprises., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Lack of credibility and trust in fund managers has been highlighted as one of the key reasons why people do not join health insurance schemes in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa. This work investigates the impact of corruption on households' willingness to participate and pay for health insurance in Sierra Leone. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) method was used to elicit households' willingness to participate in a health insurance scheme with different attributes. The data were collected from 1458 representative households working in the informal sector of the Northern and Western regions. We explore the relationship between household characteristics and experienced (respectively, perceived) corruption with binary and ordered logit models. We use a Mixed Logit model to estimate the association between corruption and participation in a Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) and households' willingness to pay for a HIS. We find that corruption decreases participation in a public HIS and the willingness to pay for it. Our results highlight the perverse spillover effects of corruption. Not only does corruption hinder the effectiveness of healthcare systems and, thus, worsen health outcomes. It also undermines the willingness to pay for them, jeopardizing the sustainability of healthcare systems in the countries that need them most., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Jofre-Bonet et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The objectives of this study are first, to analyze the coping strategies of informal sector traders amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and second, to take the results of this research as social studies teaching materials in realizing sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. The data collection techniques are in-depth interviews, observations, and documents of micro business actors, especially street food and food stalls. The two groups are some of the micro-entrepreneurs affected by social distancing policies. The results of the study show that there are various strategies carried out by food stall businesses and food street vendors, including online trading, storage and conversion into frozen food, and finding strategic locations. Online food application features are a mainstay for expanding marketing. Meanwhile, moving to a trading location becomes a rational choice when there are additional rules because of the COVID-19 transmission prevention policy, such as limiting business time, and not being allowed to accept food orders on the spot. To reduce losses due to the fluctuating purchasing power of customers, they process their food into frozen food and sell it via social network. The ability to adapt to this pandemic situation is material for teaching students, especially junior high schools, about adaptive economic activities. Moreover, human efforts in overcoming economic problems, so as not to increase the poverty level as expected in the SDG's are required; this can take the form of efforts to minimize poverty and develop sustainable production and consumption.

Introduction: Waste collection workers are exposed to occupational injuries at every step in the process of waste collection and disposal, from the point of collection at homes, during transportation, and at the sites of recycling or disposal. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of injuries among municipal waste collection workers and their health-seeking behavior for the injuries. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 422 workers from randomly selected 20 wards in four zones of Nellore. The information regarding sociodemographic, occupational, and injury characteristics were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire by conducting a face-to-face interview with each of the study participants. Results: Two hundred and four (48.3%) workers suffered from injury in the past 12 months. A shorter duration of the job, a lack of safety training, and a lack of awareness about the risk of injury on the job were significantly associated with the occurrence of injuries. The health-seeking behavior was found to be poor, with only 40.7% of those who suffered injury and 30.6% of overall workers preferring to approach any health-care facility for the treatment of wounds. Conclusion: The informal sector waste collection workers are at risk of injuries while pursuing their occupation. The health seeking behavior was found to be poor among them.

Context: For many businesses, one of the key indicators in their management is the adaptation of Information Technology in their operations. In Kenya, there has been a phenomenal growth in access to mobile phones, by June 2023, over 66 million mobile phones were connected to various telecommunication operators of which 58.3% were smart phones constituting 67.1% of internet connections. There are many digital technologies which can be adapted to facilitate the processing, dissemination, and access of information. The modern world has become competitive due to the uptake of Information Technology as one of the main business management skill, with the availability of smart phones and many applications that are easily available and easy to use. One of the main beneficiaries of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) is the Jua Kali artisans who are a key player in the Kenyan economy. Entrepreneurial competencies help the growth of businesses along the dimension of innovation. Kenya intends to entrench the use of Information Technology for public service delivery, business, skills, and innovation. The Jua Kali sector cannot be ignored, it contributes more than 80% of the total employment in Kenya. Approach: This research was carried out in the Eastlands of Nairobi, Kenya. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an interview and observation schedule. The study used an interview schedule to collect data from Jua Kali artisans carrying out their artisan businesses in the Eastlands of Nairobi and a questionnaire survey to collect data from a sample of identified Nairobi residents who had engaged an artisan to work for them six months prior to the research. Findings: The research established that most Jua Kali artisans acquired their skills in the Jua Kali sector by apprenticeship (86.3%) while a small percentage (12.7%) trained in Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions while a further one percent were trained by their former employers. Most of the artisans had attained the basic formal education qualifications i.e. primary education (27.9%) and secondary education (47.6%). The Chi-square (χ²) test was used to test the relationship between use of the basic social media digital platforms in business management and the formal education attained by artisans owning artisan businesses. Conclusion: At 0.05 level of significance (α) the research established that there is a significant relationship between the adaptation of digital platforms in business management and the formal education attained by the artisans.

In light of recent price swings in oil and the need to reduce the country's dependency on the commodity, the government of Nigeria has implemented a number of reforms and initiatives to stimulate the non-oil sector of the economy, most notably the informal sector. Government financial support as interventions would have otherwise been a relief in changing the narrative of ugly financial accessibility of participants in the informal sector. The level of financial accessibility and its relationship to the economic performance of participants in the informal sector have been largely understudied. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to assess the shortcomings of current government interventions in the informal sector and to provide a viable financial intervention structure to address these issues. This research included both primary and secondary sources of information. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data from respondents. A total of 700 informal sector participant who are mainly SMEs operators, 300 registered and 400 unregistered, were chosen using a purposeful selection technique from the six states of Southwest Nigeria. Data was examined in two ways using SPSS: descriptive and inferential. Thus, the study showed the flaws of the past interventions, such as a faulty programme design, bias in the distribution of financing facilities, a lack of knowledge about the facilities, and convoluted procedures for gaining government funding support.

A large proportion of the older population in India constitutes an undeniable share of workforce after the retirement age. This stresses the need to understand the implications of working at older ages on health outcomes. The main objective of this study is to examine the variations in health outcomes by formal/informal sector of employment of older workers using the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India. Using binary logistic regression models, the results of this study affirm that type of work does play a significant role in determining health outcomes even after controlling socio-economic, demographic, life-style behaviour, childhood health and work characteristics. The risk of Poor Cognitive Functioning (PCF) is high among informal workers, while formal workers suffer greatly from Chronic Health Conditions (CHC) and Functional Limitations (FL). Moreover, the risk of PCF and/or FL among formal workers increases with the increase in risk of CHC. Therefore, the present research study underscores the relevance of policies focusing on providing health and healthcare benefits by respective economic activity and socio-economic position of older workers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Chowdhury et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

AbstractThe informal sector often poses a measurable challenge to effective domestic revenue mobilization due to its peculiar characteristics. Modified taxation, which is a form of presumptive taxation, has been identified as an innovative way of taxing the informal sector. The study examines some of the possible implementation challenges of tax reform as well as identifying mitigating strategies to overcome the challenges. The best-worst method (BWM) of multi-criteria decision-making was employed in this study. Twenty potential challenges and 12 strategies were identified from the literature. Eight experts were contacted to rank the challenges and strategies for the implementation of the modified taxation. They were made to complete an online questionnaire by rating their preferred criteria over others. A linear BWM solver was used to determine the optimal weights of each category. The perception of tax administration emerged as the best-ranked potential obstacle to the practicability of the tax policy. On the strategy side, building trust in the taxpayers is the key to successful implementation.

The objective of this study is to analyze the asymmetrical effects between the real exchange rate and poverty in some Maghreb countries through the remittances channel and the informal sector channel. We aim at answering the following question: to what extent does the variation of the real exchange rate contribute to explain the evolution of poverty through the channels of remittances and the informal sector? To do so, we applied the NARDL technique on data for three countries (Algeria, Tunisia, and the Maghreb) over the period from 1980 to 2018. The results show that real exchange rate depreciations have a larger positive effect on poverty through remittances. The results are expected to be of considerable importance for developing countries in designing exchange rate and inflation policies that affect the poverty levels of their populations through the remittance mechanism and the size of the informal sector.

AbstractThe informal sector constitutes a vital part of developing countries’ economy. It serves as a major source of employment and livelihood for the urban poor. However, despite its multifaceted economic contributions in many developing countries, little is known about its contribution. Hence, this study examines the role of the urban informal sector in improving the livelihoods of the participants in Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia, using primary data. A random sample of 182 informal sector participants was selected from eight kebeles using multi-stage sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. The descriptive analysis results showed that the majority of the participants (67%) perceived that participating in the informal sector has considerably improved their livelihood. The econometric analysis reveals that informal business operators who earn a higher monthly income, those who save their income, stayed longer in the business, have access to credit and own more working capital, and those who get training opportunities are observed to have better livelihood improvement compared to their comparative group. Given the sector’s role in creating employment opportunities for the burgeoning urban labor force and improving livelihood, informal businesses should not be treated as a hostile group with a marginal role in the economy. Thus, along with designing strategies for the formalization of informal enterprises, facilitating access to finance, training programs, improving the business environment, and provision of business development services prepare youth to navigate the informal sector in the study area, in particular, and Ethiopia, in general.

Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa are struggling to expand voluntary health insurance schemes to raise finances toward achieving universal health coverage. With more than three-quarters of the population without any insurance, the government of Tanzania has unsuccessfully tried to pass a Bill proposing a mandatory, nationwide scheme to cover the large and diverse informal sector. The Bill proposed an annual premium of ∼150 USD for a household of six or 65 USD per person. Studies in Tanzania and Kenya have shown that the majority of people in the informal sector are unwilling and unable to pay premiums as low as 4 USD, mostly due to poverty. Mandatory health insurance for the informal sector is not common in this region, mostly because it is difficult to enforce. Successful insurance schemes have included significant subsidies from tax revenues. Tanzania should not seek to raise funds for health through an unenforceable insurance scheme but rather should consider a largely tax-funded scheme for the informal sector. Contributions through low-cost voluntary schemes can enhance social contracts, reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, and promote efficient utilization. In addition, progressive health taxes should be imposed on harmful products (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks, etc.) to raise more funds while addressing the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, efficiency in the use of scarce health resources should be promoted through realistic prioritization of public services, the use of Health Technology Assessment, and strategic purchasing.

This article delves into a compelling case study examining the intricate connection between plastic waste management in Morocco, with a particular focus on Casablanca and Rabat, and the disparate working conditions experienced by workers, both in formal and informal roles, within this sector. All of this unfolds within the broader context of the sector's shift towards the principles of the Circular Economy. To accomplish this, we draw upon insights from a diverse array of experts in the field, as well as input from key stakeholders, including public administration overseeing the transition process, representatives from the private business sector, and the informal waste collectors themselves. Through this multifaceted approach, we gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies and subtleties surrounding the evolution of waste management practices in Morocco. Additionally, it enables us to pinpoint the primary challenges associated with achieving social justice in the context of transitioning toward a Circular Economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract South Africa’s major cities are periodically wracked by large-scale xenophobic violence directed at migrants and refugees from other countries. Informal sector businesses and their migrant owners and employees are particularly vulnerable targets during these attacks. Migrant-owned businesses are also targeted on a regular basis in smaller-scale looting and destruction of property. There is now a large literature on the characteristics and causes of xenophobic violence and attitudes in South Africa, most of it based on quantitative and qualitative research in the country’s major metropolitan areas. One of the consequences of big-city xenophobia has been a search for alternative markets and safer spaces by migrants, including relocating to the country’s many smaller urban centres. The question addressed in this paper is whether they are welcomed in these cities and towns or subject to the same kinds of victimization as in large cities. This paper is the first to systematically examine this question by focusing on a group of towns in Limpopo Province and the experiences of migrants in the informal sector there. Through survey evidence and in-depth interviews and focus groups with migrant and South African vendors, the paper demonstrates that xenophobia is also pervasive in these smaller centres, in ways that both echo and differ from that in the large cities. The findings in this paper have broader significance for other countries attempting to deal with the rise of xenophobia.

This study focused on the role of the informal sector in unemployment reduction in Delta State vis-a-vis Ethiope East local government area. Unemployment has been a hydra problem in the country, and the youths happen to be the most vulnerable cum volatile among the population of the country. In that regard, there have been incessant calls by various top government functionaries, economic experts, international organizations, bureaucrats, and academics, for a diversification of the economy but to no avail. One sector that has not been given full support by the Nigerian government is the informal sector. Failure to focus on this sector and at least put in some measures so as to ensure that development occurs in this sector of the economy, has to some extent been responsible for chronic unemployment in the state. In ensuring that objectives of this research are attained, the secondary data were resorted to in the research. The Keynesian unemployment theory guided our work. This theory is known as the cyclical or deficient-demand unemployment. It is of the view that, unemployment happens when there are not enough aggregate demand in the economy to provide job for everyone who wishes to work. The following findings were obtained: that failure to encourage small and medium scale enterprises, skill acquisition and what have you, is a cause of rise in unemployment rate. That the informal sector development is a veritable source of employment for the unemployed in the country, as it gives these persons some level of leverage. That failure to industrialize the economy and create room for economic diversification is to some extent responsible for Nigeria's unemployment brouhaha. That unemployment in Nigeria has continued to be on the increase despite the abundant human and natural resources available in the country. In conclusion, the following recommendations were suggested: that there should be the introduction of a progressive tax system in the country stemming from the Federal down to local government areas. That the mode of production in the country should be transformed from the primitive, subsistence cum crude form, to the production of manufacturing as well as, finished products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze: 1) the socio-economic characteristics of households of informal sector workers in Jambi City; 2) the coping strategies of these households in facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) the influence of household socio-economic characteristics on the economic coping strategies of informal sector workers in Jambi City. The primary data used in this study were sourced from a survey of households of informal sector workers in Jambi City. The analysis utilized descriptive statistical tools and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings of the study reveal that: 1) informal sector workers are generally of productive age, with relatively good education, and predominantly engaged in trading and daily wage labor; 2) the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the social conditions of these households, particularly in terms of income, savings, and non-food expenditures; 3) in the context of economic coping strategies, the strategy of generating additional income is more commonly employed by these households compared to cutting back expenses; 4) the characteristics of the wife and the family significantly influence the coping strategies adopted by households of informal sector workers. In contrast, the characteristics of the household head do not have a significant impact.

Background: Enrollment in sub-national social health insurance schemes (SSHIS) can be challenging in developing countries like Nigeria, particularly among people in the informal sector. This could be due to a lack of knowledge on its mode of operation and benefits, distrust in government, inimical religious and traditional beliefs, as well as constraining economic factors. A complementary and innovative financing strategy such as the philanthropist adoption model (ADM) could be beneficial in improving SSHIS coverage and financial resources among persons in the informal sector. The study provides new evidence on how ADM influenced health insurance coverage and resources within SSHIS among informal settings in Nigeria. It also highlights contextual factors influencing the implementation of ADM., Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods case-study approach undertaken in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. Data were collected through in-depth interviews ( n = 14), document review ( n = 12), and quantitative (enrollment data) methods. The respondents were purposively selected based on their involvement with the implementation of the SSHIS. Data analysis for qualitative data was done using the manual thematic framework approach while descriptive analysis was performed for the quantitative data., Results: The implementation of ADM was a valuable and effective strategy for improving knowledge, coverage, and resource mobilization (annual premium pool) within the SSHIS in the informal sector. The main enablers of the implementation of ADM include strong political will and commitment, wider stakeholders' consultation and collaboration, numerous public-spirited philanthropists, and legal institutionalization of health insurance. Other enablers include organizational factors like good teamwork among Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) staff, enabling work environment (incentives, supervision, office space), and experienced marketers in the agency. However, ADM had several barriers that affected its implementation-acceptability issues due to distrust for government and the health system, health systems barriers including substandard health facilities and equipment, and inimical cultural and religious beliefs about health insurance., Conclusion: The study demonstrates a case for the implementation of innovative ADM as a strategy for enhancing SSHIS financial sustainability and coverage of persons in the informal sector. Hence, the strategy should be adopted in settings where philanthropy abounds for increasing access to quality healthcare delivery to poor beneficiaries toward achieving universal health coverage in developing countries., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer PA declared a shared affiliation with the author URE to the handling editor at the time of the review., (Copyright © 2022 Onyemaechi and Ezenwaka.)

Introduction: informal sector carpenters in Douala, Cameroon, face potential risks to their respiratory health due to daily exposure to fine particles and wood dust. The study aims to demonstrate the importance of preventing respiratory problems in this population through regular use of filtering face pieces (FFP3) respiratory masks., Methods: the before-after study involved 37 carpenters who wore FFP3 masks during their professional activities for five months. Spirometry measurements were taken before and after the intervention to assess changes in respiratory function., Results: significant improvements were observed in forced vital capacity (FVC) 89.6 % to 95.0 % (p<0.000), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 88.1 % to 95.0 % (p<0.000), Tiffeneau index 82.4 to 84.9 (p<0.000), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) 6.7 l/s to 7.9 l/s (p<0.000) after mask usage, indicating enhanced lung function., Conclusion: the regular use of FFP3 masks had a positive impact on the respiratory health of informal sector carpenters in Douala, enhancing lung function and reducing airway obstruction. The study highlights the importance of preventive measures to safeguard the respiratory well-being of workers exposed to occupational hazards. Spell out Greek characters (i.e: alpha, beta)., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright: Catherine Bouland et al.)

Background: As access to vital health services expands and universal health coverage is attained, health insurance is projected to serve as a critical risk protection for families and small enterprises. Aim: To assess the informal sector’s awareness, willingness, and problems in enrolling in the state national health insurance program. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was done in Benin City, Nigeria, in the unorganized sector. A self-structured questionnaire was created, distributed, and retrieved for this study, which was conducted among 155 artisans chosen through a stratified random sample procedure. To evaluate the data, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, SPSS version 22 was used. Results: In total, 138 people (89.0%) are aware of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), while only 93 people (60.0%) know that Edo state has a state-owned Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS). Only 17 people, or 11.0%, are engaged in the NHIS/SHIS program, whereas 107 people, or 77.5%, have expressed interest. Lack of accessibility to authorized healthcare facilities near house 22 (71.0%) is a significant deterrent to enrollment in the program. Long lines at service points (3.88, 1.093), the time it takes to enroll new members in the program (3.78, 1.101), the time it takes for health maintenance organizations to issue authorization codes (3.62, 1.316), the accessibility of NHIS services outside of registration institutions (3.29, 1.289), and the standard of drugs provided by the SHIS (3.12, 1.358) are all factors that hinder utilization. Sex and place of residence each strongly correlated with readiness to sign up for the program (AOR = 4.234, P = 0.017, 95% CI: 1.293–13.873 and AOR = 5.224, P = 0.007, 95% CI: 1.557–17.530, respectively). Conclusion: The artisans have a low rate of health insurance coverage but are eager to sign up for the program. State policymakers should increase their reach and make enrollment required to attain a higher range.

The informal sector occupies an important place in developing economies. This paper attempts both to estimate the size of the informal sector in Côte d’Ivoire over the period 1987-2020 and to determine its trend. The results obtained using the MIMIC method reveal that the size of the informal sector is equal to 42.35% of GDP in 2020, and also reveal that there is a growth and a positive trend of the informal sector in Côte d’Ivoire. Moreover, tax pressure, inflation and corruption play a determining role in the development of informal activities in Côte d’Ivoire.